Centrosaurus
-described by
Lambe, 1904 (Dodson, 1996). It has all of the diagnostic
properties of the Ceratopsia. The skull is more than three
feet long, with a single forward thrust nasal horn and small
growths over each eye (RTM, 1996). Centrosaurus is a
large dinosaur, reaching lengths up to 20ft. (Dodson, 1996).
It has a short frill which contains two large fontanelles,
the back of which often curve forward like bony hooks
drooped over the two large frill openings. Some specimens
have been discovered with skin impressions (RTM, 1996).
There is evidence that Centrosaurus may have lived in
herds for protection from predators. This has been proposed
as one theory explaining the remains of more than 50
individuals found in a single site in Dinosaur Provincial
Park, Alberta (RTM, 1996). It is thought that a
Centrosaurus herd may have tried to cross a river in
a flood but the rushing waters were too strong, and hence
many drowned. Their carcasses washed onto a sandbar where
they remained until the water retreated. When the river
flooded again the following year, it buried all unscavenged
remains under a layer of sand to be preserved (RTM,
1996).
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