Centrosaurus

Say it like this: “SEN-troh-SOR-uhs”

Centrosaurus apertus

Centrosaurus ate plants and walked on four legs. It lived in the Late Cretaceous. Bones have been found in Canada.

Quiz me on Centrosaurus

When: Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago
Named in: 1905 · Lambe, L. M.
Hip height: Not established
Length: 5–5.5 m · 16–18 ft
Weight: 2–2.5 tonnes
Found in: Canada · Dinosaur Park
Food and walking: Herbivore · Four legs
Kind: horned dinosaur · Ceratopsian
Family branch: Centrosaurinae

The story in short

Centrosaurus was formally named in 1905 by L. M. Lambe.

Fossils referred to Centrosaurus date to the Late Cretaceous (Campanian), roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago. Finds come from Canada, including the Dinosaur Park Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on four legs.

Published estimates put Centrosaurus at a length near 5–5.5 m and a body mass around 2–2.5 tonnes.

On the family tree it sits in Centrosaurinae, among the horned dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Achelousaurus

Achelousaurus horneri

Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago

Albertaceratops

Albertaceratops nesmoi

Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago

Avaceratops

Avaceratops lammersi

Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago