Styracosaurus with animation

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Styracosaurus (/stɪˌrækəˈsɔːrəs/ sti-RAK-ə-SOR-əs; meaning spiked lizard from the Ancient Greek styrax/στύραξ spike at the butt-end of a spear-shaft and sauros/σαῦρος lizard)[1] is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur from the Cretaceous Period (Campanian stage), about 75.5 to 75 million years ago. It had four to six long parietal spikes extending from its neck frill, a smaller jugal horn on each of its cheeks, and a single horn protruding from its nose, which may have been up to 60 centimeters (2 feet) long and 15 centimeters (6 inches) wide. The function or functions of the horns and frills have been debated for many years. Styracosaurus was a relatively large dinosaur, reaching lengths of 5.5 meters (18 feet) and weighing about 2.7 tonnes. It stood about 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) tall. Styracosaurus possessed four short legs and a bulky body. Its tail was rather short. The skull had a beak and shearing cheek teeth arranged in continuous dental batteries, suggesting that the animal sliced up plants. Like other ceratopsians, this dinosaur may have been a herd animal, travelling in large groups, as suggested by bone beds. Named by Lawrence Lambe in 1913, Styracosaurus is a member of the Centrosaurinae. One species, S. albertensis, is currently assigned to Styracosaurus. Another species, S. ovatus, named in 1930 by Charles Gilmore was reassigned to a new genus, Rubeosaurus, by Andrew McDonald and Jack Horner in 2010,[2] but it has recently been considered either its own species or a species of Styracosaurus (or even a specimen of S. albertensis)[3] again. On the bonebed of Arizona 100 Styracosaurus individuals were discovered which indicates that they travel in herds. rhamphorhynchus reptile dinosaur paleontology lizard wildlife animal creature extinct iguana tyrant animals claw rex immense wild danger jurassic predator theropod