Cretaceous
Protoceratops
Protoceratops andrewsi
The catalogue presents Protoceratops as a herbivore member of Protoceratopsidae that lived during the Cretaceous, between 121.4–83.6 Ma. Its estimated range is 1.5–2.0 m in length and 60–180 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Djadochta Formation, Mongolia. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Protoceratops, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Granger and Gregory (1923).
The PBDB places it in Protoceratopsidae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Protoceratopsidae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Protoceratopsidae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Aptian to the Campanian.
The PBDB catalogues 19 occurrences, with material from the Djadokhta Formation (17), from the Alagteeg Formation (1) and from the Baruungoyot Formation (1). Provenance: Mongolia.
The catalogue records the holotype as AMNH 6251 and the type locality as “Djadochta Formation, Mongolia”.
- AMNH 6251
- Djadochta Formation, Mongolia
The catalogue's reference measurements are 1.5–2.0 m in length and 60–180 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 1.5-2.0 m
- 60-180 kg
The record gathers 73 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
- 1.5–2.0 m
- Weight
- 60–180 kg
- Period
- Cretaceous
- Time range
- 121.4–83.6 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1923
- Described by
- Walter Granger
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Ornithischia
- Family
- Protoceratopsidae
- Genus
- Protoceratops
- Species
- P. andrewsi
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
- AMNH 6251
- Type locality
- Djadochta Formation, Mongolia