Helioceratops
Encyclopedia
Helioceratops is a genus
of neoceratopsian dinosaur
from the Middle Cretaceous of China
. The type species
is H. brachygnathus, described in 2009 by a group of paleontologists led by Jin Liyong. Helioceratops was discovered in the Quantou Formation
of China's eastern Jilin
province and is known mostly from skull fragments. It reached a length of around 1.3 m (4.3 ft) and may have shared its habitat with Changchunsaurus
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of neoceratopsian dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
from the Middle Cretaceous of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
is H. brachygnathus, described in 2009 by a group of paleontologists led by Jin Liyong. Helioceratops was discovered in the Quantou Formation
Quantou Formation
The Quantou Formation is a Mesozoic geologic formation. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been referred to a specific genus.-See also:* List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations...
of China's eastern Jilin
Jilin
Jilin , is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. Jilin borders North Korea and Russia to the east, Heilongjiang to the north, Liaoning to the south, and Inner Mongolia to the west...
province and is known mostly from skull fragments. It reached a length of around 1.3 m (4.3 ft) and may have shared its habitat with Changchunsaurus
Changchunsaurus
Changchunsaurus is an extinct genus of small herbivorous ornithopod dinosaur from Early Cretaceous deposits of Gongzhuling, Jilin, China. It is the first named dinosaur genus from Jilin.-Description:...
.