Ceratopsia

Ceratopsia or Ceratopia is a group of herbivorous, beaked dinosaurs that thrived in what are now North America, Asia and Europe, during the Cretaceous Period, although ancestral forms lived earlier, in the Late Jurassic of Asia. The earliest known ceratopsian, Yinlong downsi, lived between 161.2 and 155.7 million years ago. The last ceratopsian species, Triceratops prorsus, became extinct during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, 66 million years ago.

Ceratopsia

Uncredited · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikipedia/Commons. May be a photograph of a specimen, or an artist’s reconstruction — an interpretation of a skeleton, since colour and soft tissue are almost never preserved.

On record

Recorded, not inferred
Also called
ceratopsianPBDB
Sits inside
MarginocephaliaPBDB
Diet
herbivorePBDB
Life habit
ground dwellingPBDB
Motility
actively mobilePBDB, for Ornithischia
Environment
terrestrialPBDB

Time the record covers

At least 82 million years on record.

The record covers at least 154.8 Mya to 72.2 Mya. No occurrence read is dated outside 161.5 Mya to 66 Mya.

Middle Jurassic — about 0 of 1149 occurrencesLate Jurassic — about 3 of 1149 occurrencesLate JurassicEarly Cretaceous — about 101 of 1149 occurrencesEarly CretaceousLate Cretaceous — about 1045 of 1149 occurrencesLate CretaceousPaleocene — about 0 of 1149 occurrences163–160 Mya — about 0.4 occurrences160–157 Mya — about 1 occurrence157–153 Mya — about 0.6 occurrences153–150 Mya — about 0.3 occurrences150–147 Mya — about 0.4 occurrences147–144 Mya — about 0.4 occurrences144–140 Mya — about 1 occurrence140–137 Mya — about 3 occurrences137–134 Mya — about 3 occurrences134–130 Mya — about 4 occurrences130–127 Mya — about 4 occurrences127–124 Mya — about 10 occurrences124–120 Mya — about 16 occurrences120–117 Mya — about 15 occurrences117–114 Mya — about 13 occurrences114–110 Mya — about 12 occurrences110–107 Mya — about 6 occurrences107–104 Mya — about 6 occurrences104–101 Mya — about 7 occurrences101–97 Mya — about 9 occurrences97–94 Mya — about 9 occurrences94–91 Mya — about 13 occurrences91–87 Mya — about 5 occurrences87–84 Mya — about 8 occurrences84–81 Mya — about 142 occurrences81–77 Mya — about 158 occurrences77–74 Mya — about 158 occurrences74–71 Mya — about 197 occurrences71–67 Mya — about 244 occurrences67–64 Mya — about 103 occurrences154.8 Mya72.2 Mya163 Mya64 Mya

1,149 occurrences of Ceratopsia on record, most of them in the Late Cretaceous. Bar height is expected occurrences, not a count: each fossil is spread across the span it is dated to, so a tall narrow bar means tight dating and a low wide one means loose.

When

1,149 occurrences

These are dates about fossils, not the animal: the record can only begin after it arose and end before it died out, so either end may reach further. Shares are expected occurrences: a fossil dated to a span is counted partly in each period it straddles. More on what this infers.

Found in

134 formations

  • Hell Creek Formation · Montana GroupMontana, North Dakota, South Dakota · US · 72.2–66 Mya175
  • Dinosaur Park Formation · Belly River GroupAlberta, Saskatchewan · CA · 83.6–72.2 Mya145
  • Lance Formation · Montana GroupWyoming, Utah, South Dakota · US · 72.2–66 Mya87
  • Fruitland/Kirtland FormationNew Mexico · US · 83.6–72.2 Mya52
  • Oldman Formation · Belly River GroupAlberta · CA · 83.6–72.2 Mya49
  • Djadokhta FormationOmnogov, Omnogov Aimak, Omnogov Aimag · MN · 83.6–72.2 Mya32
Hell Creek — 47.68°N, 106.43°WHell Creek — 46.47°N, 104.02°WHell Creek — 47.72°N, 106.23°WHell Creek — 47.54°N, 107.08°WHell Creek — 45.95°N, 103.96°WHell Creek — 46.10°N, 103.30°WHell Creek — 45.98°N, 103.75°WHell Creek — 46.15°N, 103.81°WHell Creek — 46.18°N, 103.84°WHell Creek — 46.30°N, 103.98°WHell Creek — 46.41°N, 103.94°WHell Creek — 46.38°N, 103.96°WHell Creek — 46.45°N, 103.02°WHell Creek — 46.33°N, 103.90°WHell Creek — 45.94°N, 103.95°WHell Creek — 47.80°N, 106.10°WHell Creek — 47.62°N, 107.32°WHell Creek — 47.84°N, 106.16°WHell Creek — 47.57°N, 107.10°WHell Creek — 47.52°N, 106.40°WHell Creek — 47.60°N, 106.38°WHell Creek — 47.58°N, 106.30°WHell Creek — 47.55°N, 107.25°WHell Creek — 47.52°N, 107.18°WHell Creek — 47.53°N, 106.92°WHell Creek — 47.07°N, 106.92°WHell Creek — 47.60°N, 107.23°WHell Creek — 47.52°N, 107.00°WHell Creek — 47.87°N, 106.18°WHell Creek — 47.63°N, 106.20°WHell Creek — 45.46°N, 103.84°WHell Creek — 46.90°N, 101.50°WHell Creek — 46.09°N, 100.63°WHell Creek — 47.05°N, 104.74°WHell Creek — 46.26°N, 105.12°WHell Creek — 45.46°N, 104.16°WHell Creek — 45.59°N, 104.91°WHell Creek — 45.06°N, 103.45°WHell Creek — 47.58°N, 106.92°WHell Creek — 47.65°N, 106.28°WHell Creek — 45.73°N, 104.89°WHell Creek — 47.60°N, 107.00°WHell Creek — 45.71°N, 103.56°WHell Creek — 45.38°N, 105.30°WHell Creek — 45.83°N, 103.90°WHell Creek — 46.41°N, 103.50°WHell Creek — 46.50°N, 103.87°WHell Creek — 46.24°N, 107.38°WHell Creek — 47.66°N, 107.34°WHell Creek — 45.66°N, 105.08°WHell Creek — 45.89°N, 104.55°WHell Creek — 47.77°N, 106.29°WHell Creek — 46.57°N, 103.70°WHell Creek — 45.50°N, 103.10°WHell Creek — 45.64°N, 103.49°WHell Creek — 44.94°N, 101.65°WHell Creek — 47.06°N, 104.59°WHell Creek — 45.00°N, 103.19°WHell Creek — 45.00°N, 103.14°WHell Creek — 44.71°N, 103.06°WDinosaur Park — 50.74°N, 111.53°WDinosaur Park — 50.74°N, 111.57°WDinosaur Park — 50.81°N, 111.32°WDinosaur Park — 50.75°N, 111.48°WDinosaur Park — 49.95°N, 110.27°WDinosaur Park — 50.73°N, 111.30°WDinosaur Park — 49.12°N, 110.47°WDinosaur Park — 50.73°N, 111.80°WDinosaur Park — 50.82°N, 111.57°WDinosaur Park — 50.75°N, 111.40°WDinosaur Park — 49.14°N, 110.42°WDinosaur Park — 50.75°N, 111.40°WDinosaur Park — 50.82°N, 111.86°WDinosaur Park — 51.56°N, 108.14°WDinosaur Park — 51.44°N, 110.39°WDinosaur Park — 51.47°N, 110.39°WDinosaur Park — 52.45°N, 109.17°WDinosaur Park — 48.03°N, 110.24°WDinosaur Park — 50.82°N, 111.23°WDinosaur Park — 52.08°N, 112.98°WDinosaur Park — 50.40°N, 111.10°WDinosaur Park — 50.56°N, 111.46°WDinosaur Park — 50.68°N, 108.09°WDinosaur Park — 50.51°N, 110.39°WLance — 43.35°N, 104.48°WLance — 43.30°N, 104.37°WLance — 41.57°N, 108.65°WLance — 41.55°N, 108.69°WLance — 42.20°N, 104.46°WLance — 42.58°N, 105.39°WLance — 43.12°N, 104.65°WLance — 43.14°N, 104.91°WLance — 43.24°N, 104.61°WLance — 43.18°N, 104.53°WLance — 37.58°N, 111.83°WLance — 45.75°N, 101.20°WLance — 42.65°N, 105.24°WLance — 43.27°N, 104.60°WLance — 43.28°N, 104.67°WLance — 43.14°N, 104.71°WLance — 42.09°N, 106.88°WLance — 41.91°N, 104.20°WLance — 43.20°N, 104.66°WLance — 43.49°N, 104.61°WLance — 45.04°N, 108.80°WLance — 43.00°N, 104.50°WLance — 43.44°N, 104.41°WLance — 45.48°N, 104.19°WLance — 43.42°N, 104.49°WLance — 45.35°N, 105.24°WLance — 45.39°N, 103.70°WLance — 45.52°N, 103.50°WLance — 45.90°N, 107.65°WLance — 43.74°N, 106.77°WLance — 41.73°N, 104.37°WLance — 42.88°N, 105.85°WLance — 45.39°N, 103.97°WLance — 45.46°N, 103.84°WLance — 47.79°N, 104.56°WLance — 45.92°N, 101.53°WLance — 47.48°N, 104.48°WLance — 43.49°N, 104.46°WLance — 45.17°N, 109.11°WFruitland/Kirtland — 36.29°N, 108.10°WFruitland/Kirtland — 36.27°N, 108.21°WFruitland/Kirtland — 36.19°N, 108.09°WFruitland/Kirtland — 36.06°N, 107.96°WFruitland/Kirtland — 36.33°N, 108.05°WFruitland/Kirtland — 36.28°N, 108.26°WFruitland/Kirtland — 35.97°N, 107.50°WFruitland/Kirtland — 36.17°N, 107.96°WFruitland/Kirtland — 36.23°N, 107.94°WFruitland/Kirtland — 36.02°N, 107.80°WFruitland/Kirtland — 36.24°N, 108.19°WOldman — 50.73°N, 111.80°WOldman — 50.63°N, 111.62°WOldman — 49.10°N, 110.94°WOldman — 49.08°N, 110.84°WOldman — 49.08°N, 110.68°WOldman — 49.16°N, 110.72°WOldman — 50.76°N, 111.53°WOldman — 49.20°N, 110.60°WOldman — 50.75°N, 111.52°WOldman — 49.29°N, 112.21°WOldman — 49.36°N, 110.58°WOldman — 50.73°N, 110.08°WOldman — 50.75°N, 111.41°WOldman — 49.28°N, 112.58°WOldman — 50.87°N, 111.16°WOldman — 50.69°N, 111.62°WDjadokhta — 44.25°N, 103.33°EDjadokhta — 44.16°N, 103.69°EDjadokhta — 43.66°N, 100.90°EDjadokhta — 44.00°N, 104.00°EDjadokhta — 44.23°N, 103.30°EDjadokhta — 44.13°N, 103.56°EDjadokhta — 42.08°N, 102.17°EDjadokhta — 43.65°N, 100.78°EDjadokhta — 44.15°N, 103.72°EDjadokhta — 44.09°N, 102.91°EDjadokhta — 44.52°N, 103.15°EDjadokhta — 44.05°N, 102.82°EKirtland — 36.31°N, 108.08°WKirtland — 36.27°N, 108.17°WKirtland — 36.19°N, 107.89°WKirtland — 36.36°N, 108.57°WKirtland — 36.39°N, 108.07°WKirtland — 36.15°N, 107.82°WKirtland — 36.70°N, 108.30°WKirtland — 36.31°N, 108.03°WKirtland — 36.09°N, 108.01°WKirtland — 36.29°N, 108.55°WKirtland — 36.51°N, 108.32°WHorseshoe Canyon — 51.84°N, 112.78°WHorseshoe Canyon — 51.55°N, 112.87°WHorseshoe Canyon — 51.79°N, 113.01°WHorseshoe Canyon — 51.75°N, 112.96°WHorseshoe Canyon — 51.61°N, 112.88°WHorseshoe Canyon — 51.95°N, 112.94°WHorseshoe Canyon — 51.41°N, 112.63°WHorseshoe Canyon — 53.34°N, 113.89°WHorseshoe Canyon — 51.69°N, 112.93°WHorseshoe Canyon — 53.45°N, 113.55°WHorseshoe Canyon — 51.46°N, 112.73°WFerris — 42.16°N, 106.91°WFerris — 41.94°N, 106.88°WFerris — 41.80°N, 107.00°WFerris — 41.96°N, 106.89°WFerris — 41.83°N, 106.62°WAguja — 29.14°N, 103.20°WAguja — 29.20°N, 103.55°WAguja — 29.32°N, 103.52°WAguja — 29.20°N, 103.20°WAguja — 29.25°N, 103.55°WAguja — 29.25°N, 103.25°WAguja — 29.16°N, 103.03°WAguja — 29.14°N, 103.03°WAguja — 29.10°N, 103.12°WBaruungoyot — 43.25°N, 99.75°EBaruungoyot — 43.50°N, 101.07°EBaruungoyot — 43.52°N, 109.12°EBaruungoyot — 44.44°N, 109.78°EBaruungoyot — 43.30°N, 99.60°EBaruungoyot — 43.47°N, 99.83°EBaruungoyot — 43.94°N, 101.33°EBaruungoyot — 43.47°N, 101.52°EJudith River — 46.46°N, 109.41°WJudith River — 47.77°N, 108.95°WJudith River — 47.90°N, 109.00°WJudith River — 47.74°N, 109.62°WJudith River — 47.81°N, 109.59°WJudith River — 46.40°N, 109.66°WJudith River — 46.10°N, 109.11°WJudith River — 46.24°N, 109.59°WJudith River — 48.95°N, 110.56°WJudith River — 46.76°N, 108.00°WJudith River — 47.53°N, 109.50°WJudith River — 47.28°N, 108.21°WJudith River — 47.58°N, 109.41°WJudith River — 48.89°N, 110.74°WJudith River — 48.95°N, 110.62°WJudith River — 48.96°N, 112.27°WDenver — 39.73°N, 105.04°WDenver — 39.75°N, 105.20°WDenver — 39.81°N, 105.01°WDenver — 38.85°N, 104.35°WDenver — 39.87°N, 105.11°WDenver — 39.89°N, 105.00°WDenver — 39.31°N, 105.30°WDenver — 39.71°N, 105.09°WDenver — 39.65°N, 105.14°WDenver — 39.89°N, 104.89°WDenver — 39.99°N, 104.82°WDenver — 38.67°N, 104.70°WDenver — 38.91°N, 104.53°WTwo Medicine — 48.97°N, 112.65°WTwo Medicine — 48.63°N, 113.75°WTwo Medicine — 48.46°N, 112.47°WTwo Medicine — 48.94°N, 112.64°WTwo Medicine — 47.82°N, 112.18°WTwo Medicine — 48.61°N, 109.68°WTwo Medicine — 48.97°N, 112.64°WFrenchman — 49.50°N, 109.10°WFrenchman — 49.04°N, 106.60°WFrenchman — 49.12°N, 106.35°WFrenchman — 49.00°N, 107.30°WFrenchman — 49.40°N, 107.40°WFrenchman — 49.52°N, 108.82°WFrenchman — 49.30°N, 108.40°WFrenchman — 49.05°N, 106.57°WFrenchman — 49.34°N, 108.33°WFrenchman — 49.33°N, 108.49°WFrenchman — 50.21°N, 107.37°WFrenchman — 49.06°N, 107.28°WOjo Alamo — 36.31°N, 108.03°WOjo Alamo — 36.24°N, 108.89°WOjo Alamo — 36.34°N, 108.08°WKaiparowits — 37.63°N, 111.86°WKaiparowits — 37.56°N, 111.74°WKaiparowits — 37.53°N, 111.76°WKaiparowits — 37.53°N, 111.70°WKaiparowits — 37.42°N, 111.73°WKaiparowits — 37.40°N, 111.20°WYixian — 41.80°N, 120.73°EYixian — 41.60°N, 120.87°EYixian — 41.37°N, 124.68°EYixian — 41.78°N, 120.76°EYixian — 41.53°N, 121.25°EYixian — 41.58°N, 120.95°EYixian — 41.41°N, 119.12°ECerro del Pueblo — 25.70°N, 101.40°WCerro del Pueblo — 25.50°N, 101.40°WCerro del Pueblo — 25.47°N, 101.70°WCerro del Pueblo — 25.44°N, 101.29°WFruitland — 36.29°N, 108.23°WFruitland — 36.15°N, 107.98°WFruitland — 36.21°N, 108.08°WFruitland — 36.62°N, 108.46°WFruitland — 36.31°N, 108.08°WFruitland — 36.10°N, 108.13°WAguja — 28.94°N, 103.37°WAguja — 28.83°N, 103.30°WAguja — 29.00°N, 103.82°WAguja — 28.99°N, 103.31°WAguja — 28.92°N, 103.34°WAguja — 28.98°N, 103.38°WAguja — 28.77°N, 103.44°WAguja — 29.37°N, 104.27°WBissekty — 42.12°N, 62.66°EBissekty — 40.70°N, 72.60°ELaramie — 40.39°N, 104.49°WLaramie — 40.29°N, 106.86°WLaramie — 40.67°N, 104.33°WLaramie — 40.91°N, 104.76°WLaramie — 39.84°N, 105.18°WLaramie — 39.94°N, 105.14°WLaramie — 40.76°N, 104.16°WLaramie — 40.84°N, 104.58°WKhodzhakul — 40.10°N, 65.80°EKhodzhakul — 40.60°N, 71.83°EKhodzhakul — 40.60°N, 71.83°W

Loading coastlines…

The named rock units Ceratopsia has been recovered from, largest first. Drawn where the rock is now, not where it formed. 110 further formations hold fewer occurrences each and are not listed. 38 occurrences have no formation on record, which is common for older literature.

Ceratopsia and its relatives

Late Cretaceous

Where Ceratopsia and its relatives were recorded in the Late Cretaceous.

Found in the same rock

779 taxa

The Paleobiology Database records 1,058 sites for Ceratopsia, and this reads 240 of them. The number is how many of those sites it was catalogued from too. The 24 sharing the most are listed.

This is not a list of everything alive at the time. It is only what has come out of the same ground as this animal and been written down.

Entered from

468 references

Each of the 1,149 occurrences read was entered from one of these publications, ordered by how many each accounts for. This is not a search for papers mentioning the name. 456 further references are not listed. Entries link to doi.org where the Paleobiology Database holds an identifier, and to its own record where it does not. Relayed as the Paleobiology Database holds them, not checked against what they resolve to.

Media and terms

Media content2

Picture of Ceratopsia

Credit
nobody named on the record
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0
Commercial use
the licence allows it

3D model

Source
Sketchfab
Licence
CC0 Public Domain
Commercial use
the licence allows it

The description on this site

Licence
CC BY-SA 4.0

This is what the site found, which is not the same as what exists.

Keep going

What may have been alongside itMarginocephalia through timeFormations of the Late CretaceousThe world it lived on

Occurrence data from the Paleobiology Database, CC BY 4.0. (Marsh 1890)