3 Frightening Things to Know About the Diabloceratops

Countless iconic dinosaurs walked the planet, ruling over it, throughout the Cretaceous period. The Diabloceratops was one of the many beasts that lived in what is now North America. Let’s get into some frightening facts about the Diabloceratops.

A Connection To Other Dinosaurs

While the Diabloceratops may not be the first horned dinosaur most people think of, it is related to one—the Triceratops. These species are part of the same animal grouping, the Ceratopsians.

While this dinosaur shares a “lineage” with fellow Ceratopsians, it still had distinct features that made it stand out, as with all animals. The Diabloceratops had shorter horns and a larger frill than distant relatives like the Triceratops.

Dino Fact

Paleontologists also hypothesized that the Diabloceratops had strong social connections with its kind and lived in groups. Due to the discovery of bone beds, scientists suspect this is a trait most Ceratopsians share.

It Had a Fearsome Look

Similar to other members of the Ceratopsian group, the Diabloceratops had a frill and large horns at the top of its head. The Diabloceratops had two large horns directly above its eyes and two more at the top of its bony frill.

This dinosaur’s name partially comes from its looks, as “Diablo” comes from the Latin word for devil. The placement of the Diabloceratops’ horns gave it a devilish appearance that many of us may consider fascinating yet fearsome.

Dino Fact

Although the Diabloceratops may look scary, it’s most likely that it was a docile creature. As a herbivore, it didn’t hunt and instead fed on plants.

It Had a Natural Defense

Another frightening thing to know about the Diabloceratops is that scientists hypothesize that Diabloceratops horns served multiple purposes. While males of the species could show off their beautiful horns to attract a mate, they may have also used them when fighting one another or fending off predators.

Bonus Fact: It Was a Relatively Small

Although a small size isn’t frightening, it is interesting to note. This member of the Ceratopsian group was roughly 14 feet long; however, this is just an estimate as we have yet to uncover a complete dinosaur fossil.

Although 14 feet may not sound very small, it is in comparison to other Ceratopsians. For example, a Triceratops was 26 to 30 feet long—almost double the size of a Diabloceratops.

Add to Your Dinosaur Collection

Although the Diabloceratops may not be as well-known as its distant relative, the Triceratops, it still holds an important place in dinosaur history. Its unique features and fearsome appearance make it a fascinating creature to learn about.

Creative Beast Studio’s Beasts of the Mesozoic Ceratopsian collection includes an array of Ceratopsians, including the Styracosaurus, Triceratops, Albertaceratops, Diabloceratops, and more. Add your favorite Ceratopsian dinosaur to your collection!