CERATOPSIANS
(sair-ah-top'se-en)The Ceratopsians, or "frilled dinosaurs," are members of a family of large, plant-eating dinosaurs that vary in size from the tiny Protoceratops to the famous Triceratops. They have a parrot-like beak at the front of the jaw and sport a wide diversity of horns and frills, from the Chasmosaurus (depicted right) whose neck frill extended halfway down its back to the horn-less Pachyrhinosaurus. Paleontologists believe that their horns were utilized in combat while the neck frill appeared intimidating, perhaps protecting them from the large bipedal carnivores. The Ceratopsians weighed several tons, as much as modern elephants, but their short feet and hind-leg sprawl made them slower and not as tall. The Exhibit Hall presents the considerable evidence from both the Bible and classical authors of Ceratopsians living alongside men in ancient times. But there are also some credible reports from Africa that these creatures persist even to the present!
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