Fun Mercuriceratops Facts For Kids
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The Mercuriceratops gemini, the 'Roman God Mercury Horned Face,' was discovered in 2011 by paleontologists who found fossils from this creature along with those of many other horned dinosaurs.
This herbivore is considered to be closely related to the Triceratops and lived during the late Cretaceous period about 72-66 million years ago. It belongs to a group known as Ceratopsoidea which includes all descendants of their common ancestor's first appearance on Earth more than 77 million years ago!
A new species of dinosaur was found in north-central Montana: the Mercuriceratops.
The Mercuriceratops gemini belongs to a group called "ceratopids," whose members can be distinguished by their horns over each eye and a nose-like ornament on top of the snout - features not seen before from this time period or region. When the Mercuriceratops was first discovered, people thought it may have been a new species of the Triceratops.
Paleontologists found that to be false as they were able to distinguish many differences between these two specimens.
The most notable difference is its unique horns and a butterfly-shaped frill and protrusions which are completely different from other ceratopsians out there today! The Mercuriceratops gemini is an impressive specimen because researchers believe only one elaborate skull ornamentation has ever been unearthed by scientists around the world.
It can take years for experts like this to find even a partial Mercuriceratops skeleton since bones tend not to last very long on Earth!
Find more exciting content about the Staurikosaurus and the Dacentrurus for kids!
Mercuriceratops Interesting Facts
How do you pronounce 'Mercuriceratops'?
The name of this horned dinosaur is interesting. Its pronunciation, however, which is (mer-cue-rih sair' ahtops), can be tricky for those who are not familiar with it.
What type of dinosaur was a Mercuriceratops?
A herbivorous chasmosaurine ceratopsid horned dinosaur, like a Mercuriceratops, was an extremely unique species of the late Cretaceous period.
In which geological period did the Mercuriceratops roam the Earth?
During the late Cretaceous period, in between 66 and 100 million years ago, a small horned dinosaur called the Mercuriceratops roamed the Earth.
When did the Mercuriceratops become extinct?
It is not known exactly when this species of plant-eating dinosaur became extinct, but it may have been as recently as 26 million years ago.
Where did a Mercuriceratops live?
The Mercuriceratops was a herbivorous horned dinosaur that lived in what is now North America.
What was a Mercuriceratops' habitat?
A plant-eating dinosaur, the Mercuriceratops lived in the northern region of western North America. It probably had a home that included lakes, rivers, and floodplains with some forests around them.
Who did a Mercuriceratops live with?
The answer to this question is still relatively unknown. However, it’s believed that the horned dinosaur Mercuriceratops lived with a Nemegtosaurus and possibly other dinosaurs as well.
How long did a Mercuriceratops live?
The ancient animal known as a Mercuriceratops lived for about 20 years.
How did they reproduce?
Paleontologists who discovered the previously unknown species, Mercuriceratops, couldn't figure out how they reproduced. All they could confirm is that they laid eggs.
Mercuriceratops Fun Facts
What did a Mercuriceratops look like?
The Mercuriceratops had a large horn over its nose and two horns placed on the neck giving it an elaborate skull ornamentation. This animal could grow to be about 20 ft (6.1 m) long, including a neck and tail that were twice as long as those of other ceratopsians.
It weighed up to 1,100 lb (499 kg). The herbivore's tiny arms were each less than 3 ft (0.9 m) long.
These short arms were not useful for self-defense or for grabbing food from trees so these dinosaurs would need another way of protection such as camouflage or armor plating as a shield. The Mercuriceratops humerus was long and strong!
How many bones did a Mercuriceratops have?
The Mercuriceratops had 200 bones. Its maxilla and jugal (which make up part of its beak) were placed above the neck. It was a herbivore that lived in what is today North America during the late Cretaceous period about 75 million years ago.
How did they communicate?
The Mercuriceratops communicated with each other by using short growls and roars.
How big was a Mercuriceratops?
The Mercuriceratops size was moderate and could almost be considered big with an average height of around 16 ft (4.9 m) and a length of about 31 in (78.7 cm).
How fast could a Mercuriceratops move?
A Mercuriceratops could move at speeds of up to 30-35 mph (48.3-56.3 kph), according to a study by Andrew Farke and James I. Kirkland in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology!
How much did a Mercuriceratops weigh?
These dinosaurs weighed around 1,100 lb (499 kg) on average, which is pretty similar compared to many other dinosaurs of the time.
What were the male and female names of the species?
Both males and females do not have any specific scientific terms attached to them. Both go by the name Mercuriceratops.
What would you call a baby Mercuriceratops?
A baby Mercuriceratops does not have any specific name and hence is popularly just known as a Mercuriceratops baby. It would be interesting to pet Mercuriceratops babies if they were alive today because these tiny prehistoric animals were small and adorable.
What did they eat?
These dinosaurs had a herbivorous diet. Their diet range included plants, shrubs, herbs, grass, and trees.
How aggressive were they?
Mercuriceratops were slightly aggressive, demonstrating slight signs of aggression when confronted with other members of their species. This proved to be a good strategy to shield and protect themselves as it allowed them to avoid unnecessary conflicts and therefore ensure the survival of the population.
Did you know...
This dinosaur was named Mercuriceratops because of the amalgamated nature of its head. Its frill and nasal bones combined to form a shield-like structure that looks similar to Mercury, while its horns jut out from both sides which resemble ceratopsian dinosaurs such as the Triceratops or the Chasmosaurus.
What does the word Mercuriceratops mean?
The Mercuriceratops is a new type of horned dinosaur with horns on its butterfly-shaped frill and protrusions. The name 'Mercuriceratops' means 'Horned Face from Roman God Mercury.'
The full name of this dinosaur is Mercuriceratops gemini. It was named after the Roman god Mercury, who had feet-like wings on its head.
The Mercuriceratops also had horns that looked similar to those found in ceratopsian dinosaurs such as the Triceratops, among many other features unique only to this dinosaur. This animal lived around 70 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.
Where was the Mercuriceratops found?
Fossilized remains from 77 million years ago of the Mercuriceratops were found in north-central Montana. It lived during the late Cretaceous period.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other creatures from our Atrociraptor facts or Pawpawsaurus facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Mercuriceratops coloring pages.
First image by Nobu Tamura
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Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Master of Public Health
Iram AshfaqBachelor of Dental Surgery, Master of Public Health
With a Bachelor's degree in Dental Surgery from Shaney Institute of Health Sciences and a Master's degree in Public Health from Imperial College London, Iram is a highly qualified and accomplished writer from Srinagar, India. Over the course of a year, she has acquired multiple writing certifications, focusing on health sciences and research studies. Prior to joining Kidadl, Iram gained valuable experience working as a content writer for Indian firms and interning at a New York-based company. Her expertise and passion for writing shine through in her ability to create compelling content across a variety of topics.
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