Question

What are the two diagnostic features of Ceratopsia?

1) Large skull with a frill and horns
2) Serrated or leaf-shaped teeth
3) Long neck and tail
4) Small body size

Answer 1

The two diagnostic features of Ceratopsia are their large skull with a frill and horns, and their serrated or leaf-shaped teeth, which were essential for their herbivorous diet.

Step-by-step explanation:

The two diagnostic features of Ceratopsia, a group of herbivorous dinosaurs known for their distinctive skulls, are:

1. Large skull with a frill and horns, which is one of their most recognizable features.
2. Serrated or leaf-shaped teeth, which were adapted for cutting through tough vegetation.

These features distinguish Ceratopsians from other dinosaur groups and were critical for their survival and success during the Mesozoic Era. Ceratopsians, like the well-known Triceratops, had large heads with pronounced frills—bony extensions of the skull that could serve for display or defense—and typically one or more horns. Their teeth were specialized for chewing vegetation, showing a leaf-like shape that helped them process their plant-based diet.

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