Helioceratops

sun horned face

• helios · Greek · sun
• keras · Greek · horn
• ops · Greek · face

The name combines the Greek words for "sun" (helios), "horn" (keras) and "face" (ops), giving "sun horned face". The "-ceratops" ending is the standard ending for horned-dinosaur (ceratopsian) names, even though this small, early ceratopsian had no real facial horns.

Named by

Jin et al.

Year named

2009

Period

Early Cretaceous

Found in

Quantou Formation, Jilin Province, China

A small, early ceratopsian dinosaur. The only named species is Helioceratops brachygnathus. I am not certain why the "sun" element was chosen, so I have not stated a reason.