About Centrosaurus
| Scientific Name (Genus) | Centrosaurus |
| Meaning of Name | Pointed lizard kentron (point, spine) [Greek] - saurus (lizard) [Greek] |
| Classification | Ornithischia, Marginocephalia (Ceratopsia) |
| Total Length | Approx. 6m |
| Diet | Herbivorous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Species | Centrosaurus apertus |
| Year of Paper Publication | 1904 |
| Genus Name Publication | Lambe, L. M. (1904). On the squamoso-parietal crest of the horned dinosaurs Centrosaurus apertus and Monoclonius canadensis from the Cretaceous of Alberta. Proceedings and Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, 2(10). |
Characteristics
Over a thousand fossils of Centrosaurus of various ages have been discovered in Alberta, Canada, suggesting they likely lived in herds.
A characteristic feature of Centrosaurus is the curved projections extending from the back edge of its frill. The frill skeleton had large openings at the back, which helped to reduce the weight of the head.
It had a single large horn on its nose.
Sketch comparing the skulls of horned dinosaurs.
Source: Farke, A. A., Wolff, E. D. S., & Tanke, D. H. (2009). Evidence of Combat in Triceratops. PLoS ONE, 4.
A 2009 comparative study with the skull of Triceratops suggested that the frill of Centrosaurus was more likely used for visual display rather than for defense or combat.
A Name Almost Lost to a Modern Lizard
Centrosaurus was first discovered in a formation along the Red Deer River in Alberta, Canada. It was described by Lawrence Lambe in 1904. Subsequently, a massive bonebed containing thousands of individuals was found near Calgary, Alberta (in what is now Dinosaur Provincial Park). Paleontologists speculate that a large herd of Centrosaurus was swept away while trying to cross a swollen river.
There was a time when an attempt was made to change the dinosaur's name to Eucentrosaurus because the name Centrosaurus was potentially already in use for a modern lizard.
However, it was later determined that the modern lizard named Centrosaurus belonged to a different species, and it was the lizard that had its name changed.
Therefore, the name change for the dinosaur became unnecessary, and it was officially able to keep the name Centrosaurus.
Centrosaurus Stamp & Fossil Gallery
