Genus

Valid Extinct

Psittacosaurus

Osborn 1923

Etymology Reptile perroquet

Psittacosaurus is a genus of extinct ceratopsian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of what is now Asia, existing between 125 and 105 million years ago. It is notable for being the most species-rich non-avian dinosaur genus. Up to 13 species are known, from across China, Mongolia, Russia, and Thailand. The species of Psittacosaurus were obligate bipeds at adulthood, with a high skull and a robust beak. One individual was found preserved with long filaments on the tail, similar to those of Tianyulong. Psittacosaurus probably had complex behaviours, based on the proportions and relative size of the brain. It may have been active for short periods of time during the day and night, and had well-developed senses of smell and vision.

Temporal range

Triassic

Jurassic

Cretaceous

Paleogene

Neogene

252 201 145 66 0 Ma

PBDB occurrences

Group

Dinosaures

Herbivore Ground dwelling Terrestrial

click to enlarge

A Psittacosaurus skeleton cast in the permanent collection of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

PBDB ↗ Wikipedia ↗

Classification

Dinosauria Unranked clade

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Ornithischia Unranked clade

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Neornithischia Unranked clade

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Pyrodontia Unranked clade

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Cerapoda Unranked clade

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Marginocephalia Unranked clade

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Ceratopsia Suborder

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Psittacosaurus Genus

Fossil sites 70 geolocated sites

Distribution

Top countries

🇨🇳 China

🇲🇳 Mongolia

🇷🇺 Russia

🇹🇭 Thailand

Geological formations

Yixian

Öösh

Ilek

Ejinhoro

Jiufotang

Doushan

Khuren Dukh

Lisangou

Tsagaantsav

Bayangobi

Temporal distribution

Campanian (83.6–72.2 Ma)

Albian (113.2–100.5 Ma)

Aptian (121.4–113.2 Ma)

Barremian (125.77–121.4 Ma)

Hauterivian (132.6–125.77 Ma)

Species (19)

Protiguanodon mongoliense subjective synonym of Psittacosaurus mongoliensis 121 Ma

Psittacosaurus amitabha 133 Ma

Psittacosaurus gobiensis 121 Ma

Psittacosaurus guyangensis subjective synonym of Psittacosaurus mongoliensis 121 Ma

Psittacosaurus houi subjective synonym of Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis 126 Ma

Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis 126 Ma

Psittacosaurus major subjective synonym of Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis 126 Ma

Psittacosaurus mazongshanensis nomen dubium, species not entered Psittacosaurus 113 Ma

Psittacosaurus meileyingensis 121 Ma

Psittacosaurus mongoliensis 121 Ma

Psittacosaurus neimongoliensis 143 Ma

Psittacosaurus ordosensis nomen dubium, species not entered Psittacosaurus 137 Ma

Psittacosaurus osborni subjective synonym of Psittacosaurus mongoliensis 121 Ma

Psittacosaurus protiguanodonensis subjective synonym of Psittacosaurus mongoliensis 121 Ma

Psittacosaurus sibiricus 126 Ma

Psittacosaurus sinensis 121 Ma

Psittacosaurus tingi subjective synonym of Psittacosaurus mongoliensis 121 Ma

Psittacosaurus xinjiangensis 137 Ma

Psittacosaurus youngi subjective synonym of Psittacosaurus sinensis 121 Ma

Synonyms (4)

Hongshanosaurus subjective synonym of Psittacosaurus

Protiguanodon subjective synonym of Psittacosaurus

Psittacosaurus mazongshanensis nomen dubium, species not entered Psittacosaurus

Psittacosaurus ordosensis nomen dubium, species not entered Psittacosaurus

Images 4

Bibliography

Original description

H. F. Osborn. 1923. Two Lower Cretaceous dinosaurs of Mongolia. American Museum Novitates 95:1-10

Bibliography (43)

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Psittacosaurus

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