One of the smallest of the short-frilled ceratopsids (horned dinosaurs), Brachyceratops has been named from a group of only five fossils. These were found together in one place in Montana. Each dinosaur was about 6 feet long. Some scientist thought they were not just small ceratopsids. They thought they were baby Monoclonius dinosaurs. The bones certainly looked like them and had the same features. Then the fossils of an adult were found, and now most scientists agree that these five examples represent a specail type within the family of horned dinosaurs.

Brachyceratops had a very short neck frill made of bone. It was not unlike Bagaceratops, although it had two horns above its eyebrows in addition to a large horn on its nose. Brachyceratops lived about 75 million years after Bagaceratops. It may be an early member of the family that led to Monoclonius and the giant Triceratops. All these were short-frilled dinosaurs.

There were many member of the short-frilled ceratopsian family, including Centrosaurus, Eoceratops, Monoclonius, Pachyrhinosaurus and Styracosarus. All had horns, short neck frills made of bone, and scaly skins. Some had holes in their neck frills, while other did not. Some members of the fsmily had bony spikes, all known members of the family came from North America. Of course, it is always possible that some fossil remails may be found outside region, but it is unlikely.

Location: Montana, USA

Size: Length- 5 feet (1.5 m)

Classification:

Family- Ceratopsidae

Suborder- Marginocephalia

Order- Ornithischia

Time: Late Cretaceous