Protoceratops is a sheep-sized, herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. There are two recognized species: the type species P. andrewsi and the newly named P. hellenikorhinus. Unlike later ceratopsians, it lacked well-developed horns. The Ceratopsia are a group of omnivorous and herbivorous, beaked dinosaurs which thrived in North America and Asia during the Cretaceous. ... Orders Saurischia    Sauropodomorpha    Theropoda Ornithischia Dinosaurs are reptiles that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for most of their 165-million year existence. ... The Cretaceous period is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic period (about 135 mya) to the beginning of the Paleocene epoch of the Tertiary period (65 mya). ... In biology, a species is a kind of organism. ... Type specimens When a new species is discovered, more important than creating a new and unique name for the species is developing a reasonably detailed description. ...

Protoceratops had a large neck frill, which may have served to protect the neck, to anchor jaw muscles, or to impress other members of the species. In 1971, A Velociraptor was found clutched around a Protoceratops in Mongolia. It is believed both died at once while fighting, when they were either surprised by a sand storm or buried when a sand dune collapsed on top of them. 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... Binomial name Velociraptor mongoliensis Osborn, 1924 A model of a velociraptor Velociraptor mongoliensis (fast thief), was a coyote-sized, agile and slender theropod dinosaur species from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) with an up-curved skull and large sickle-shaped claws. ...

The related protoceratopsian Leptoceratops is known from North America. World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is the third largest continent in area and in population after Eurasia and Africa. ...