Leptoceratops

Leptoceratops was an unassuming small ceratopsian that survived right up until the end-Cretaceous extinction event in western North America. Reaching about two metres in length, it was about the size of a sheep and weighed around one hundred kilograms. Unlike its famous contemporary Triceratops, Leptoceratops retained an archaic anatomy without nose or brow horns, relying on a robust beak and powerful jaw musculature to grind tough, fibrous plants. It was capable of moving on all fours or standing on its hind legs to forage. Multiple skeletons from Alberta, Montana, and Wyoming demonstrate that primitive horned dinosaurs continued to flourish alongside their massive horned relatives.

Despite living alongside Triceratops until the mass extinction, it maintained an archaic hornless build.

Where and when

Leptoceratops lived in the Late Cretaceous, from 68 to 66 million years ago (Maastrichtian age). Its remains come from Canada and United States, in the Scollard Formation.

The numbers

Length 2 m (estimates run from 1.8 to 2.2 m). Mass about 110 kg. Hip height about 0.7 m. That is 1.2 human-lengths, or 0.18 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from near-complete skeleton; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, hip height.

Compare Leptoceratops with a bus Place on the timeline