Avaceratops

Avaceratops was a small ceratopsid dinosaur discovered in Montana's Late Cretaceous Judith River Formation. With adult lengths estimated between two and a half and four metres, it was smaller than most true ceratopsids, though the original specimen represents an immature individual. The dinosaur had a short, solid neck frill that lacked the large fenestrae typical of centrosaurines, alongside blunt brow horn cores and a small snout horn. Classified within the nasutoceratopsin tribe, Avaceratops was a four-legged herbivore that used dental batteries to chew through tough Mesozoic plants. Its discovery provided vital clues regarding the early diversification and size evolution of true horned dinosaurs.

It was named in honour of Ava Cole, who assisted in locating the fossil material.

Where and when

Avaceratops lived in the Late Cretaceous, from 77 to 74 million years ago (Campanian age). Its remains come from United States, in the Judith River Formation.

The numbers

Length 3.4 m (estimates run from 2.5 to 4.2 m). Mass about 630 kg. Hip height about 1.2 m. That is 2 human-lengths, or 0.3 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from partial skeleton; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, hip height.

Compare Avaceratops with a bus Place on the timeline