Cretaceous
Archaeoceratops
Archaeoceratops oshimai
The catalogue presents Archaeoceratops as a herbivore member of Archaeoceratopsidae that lived during the Cretaceous, between 120.0–113.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 0.9–1.0 m in length and 3–5 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Xinminpu Group, Gansu, China. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Archaeoceratops, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Dong and Azuma (1997).
The PBDB places it in Neoceratopsia, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Archaeoceratopsidae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Archaeoceratopsidae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Aptian to the Albian.
The PBDB catalogues 2 occurrences, with material from the Zhonggou Formation (2). Provenance: China.
The catalogue records the holotype as IVPP V11115 and the type locality as “Xinminpu Group, Gansu, China”.
- IVPP V11115
- Xinminpu Group, Gansu, China
The catalogue's reference measurements are 0.9–1.0 m in length and 3–5 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 0.9-1.0 m
- 3-5 kg
The record gathers 19 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.
Where it lived
Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.
Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.
Artistic 3D reconstruction
There is no approved species-specific 3D model yet. Generic anatomy will not be presented as if it were evidence.
Physical Specifications
- Length
- 0.9–1.0 m
- Weight
- 3–5 kg
- Period
- Cretaceous
- Time range
- 120.0–113.0 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1997
- Described by
- Dong Zhiming & Azuma Yoichi
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Ornithischia
- Family
- Archaeoceratopsidae
- Genus
- Archaeoceratops
- Species
- A. oshimai
Data status
Taxonomic name matched to PBDB and checked on 2026-08-08.
Taxonomic linkage does not automatically validate size, mass, behaviour or appearance.
- Type specimen
- IVPP V11115
- Type locality
- Xinminpu Group, Gansu, China