Chasmosaurus |
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| Name | Chasmosaurus (KAZ-muh-SOR-us) |
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| Means | Cleft lizard | |
| Period | Late Cretaceous | |
| Where | North America: Alberta | |
| Size | Length: 17 feet Height: 8 feet Weight: 3,000 lbs |
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Ceratopsians are split into two subfamilies, those with short frills and those with long frills like Chasmosaurus. The frills of Chasmosaurus were heart-shaped and very distinct. It has been theorized by some paleontologists that the frill may have been brightly colored in order to draw the attention of a potential mate. The longer frilled ceratopsians also have longer faces and jaws than their short frilled cousins. This may have indicated that they subsisted on a different diet while sharing the same ecological niche. |
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