Microceratus

Name Origin

One with Small Horns

Family

Protoceratopsidae

Classification

Diapsida, Ornithischia, Marginocephalia

Habitat (Discovery Location)

Mongolia, China

Period

Approximately 66 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)

Length

Approximately 2 meters

Weight

Approximately 6 kg

Diet

Herbivore (Plant-eater)

Description

Microceratus was a small, primitive ceratopsian that lived on the Asian continent during the Late Cretaceous period.
Although it roamed Asia during the Late Cretaceous, its body was far from gigantic, measuring only about 2 meters in length.

The Name “Microceratops”—Unnoticed for 50 Years

This dinosaur was once widely known by the name Microceratops.
It was named Microceratops in 1953, but it was later discovered that this scientific name was already in use as a genus name for a wasp.

Because there is a rule that scientific names must be globally unique, this dinosaur has the very unusual story of being renamed Microceratus in 2008.
What makes this story even stranger is that this duplication went completely unnoticed by anyone for over 50 years.

Characteristics as a Primitive Ceratopsian

Microceratus was a primitive ceratopsian, possessing a robust, bird-like beak (snout) and a small neck frill.

Its appearance shares very similar characteristics with Psittacosaurus, which also inhabited the same region.
However, Microceratus lived in a much later era than Psittacosaurus, so it seems the two never met in life.

Jurassic
Park / World Featured Dinosaur

Role in the Film (Spoiler Alert!)

Appearance in Jurassic World
It exists only in the park's lore as one of the dinosaurs housed at the facility; it never made an appearance as a living creature.

Official CG and concept art for it do exist, and according to those materials, it was apparently intended to be an exhibit in the "Gentle Giants Petting Zoo" area—the same attraction seen in the film where children were interacting with the baby Triceratops.