Cretaceous
Spinops
Spinops sternbergorum
The catalogue presents Spinops as a herbivore member of Ceratopsidae that lived during the Cretaceous, between 75.7–75.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 5.0–6.0 m in length and 1.0–2.0 t in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Oldman Formation, Alberta, Canada. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Spinops, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Farke et al. (2011).
The PBDB places it in Centrosaurini, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Ceratopsidae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Ceratopsidae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range is the Campanian.
The PBDB catalogues 1 occurrence, with material from the Oldman Formation (1). Provenance: Canada.
The catalogue records the holotype as NHMUK PV R4859 and the type locality as “Oldman Formation, Alberta, Canada”.
- NHMUK PV R4859
- Oldman Formation, Alberta, Canada
The catalogue's reference measurements are 5.0–6.0 m in length and 1.0–2.0 t in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 5.0-6.0 m
- 1.0-2.0 tons
The record gathers 3 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
- 5.0–6.0 m
- Weight
- 1.0–2.0 t
- Period
- Cretaceous
- Time range
- 75.7–75.0 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 2011
- Described by
- Andrew Farke et al.
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Ornithischia
- Family
- Ceratopsidae
- Genus
- Spinops
- Species
- S. sternbergorum
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
- NHMUK PV R4859
- Type locality
- Oldman Formation, Alberta, Canada