One of the first of the famous ceratopsians to appear on the Earth, Protoceratops would have been a common sight in prehistoric Asia. Protoceratops has been nicknamed "the sheep of the Cretaceous" due to how common they were. These creatures would most likely have been found in large nesting colonies, fiercely defending their nests from anything they deemed a threat, whether it was a predator, or even another Protoceratops.

Basic info

Meaning of name: Protoceratops means "first horned face".

Time of existence: Protoceratops lived in the late Cretaceous, 83.5 million to 70.6 million years ago.

Diet: Protoceratops was a herbivore, feeding on ferns and low hanging trees with their sharp beaks.

Threats: Protoceratops was seen as a prey animal by many carnivores that lived around them, including Velociraptor and Tarbosaurus.

Size: Protoceratops grew to 5.9 feet long.

Attributes: Although it lacked the horns that many of its relatives were famous for, Protoceratops still had a frill used most likely for display and to protect its neck. Protoceratops also had a very strong and hard beak used to grind and tear vegetation, as well as to defend itself from predators. They also have been found in large groups with their nests, indicating that they would nest in large colonies.

A Protoceratops defends its nest

Appearances in the Walking with... series

Chased by Dinosaurs

Protoceratops can be seen briefly in the opening, where two can be seen roaring and snapping at Nigel.

Episode 1-The Giant Claw

Protoceratops is briefly seen in the opening synopsis, where it is seen snapping its jaws. As Nigel Marven searches the desert for the elusive Therizinosaurus, a small group of Protoceratops inquisitively investigate him. As he continues, he comes across a huge colony of nesting Protoceratops, each one fiercely defending their nests, snapping and roaring at each other. Nigel must get through the colony to get to a forest, and takes a calculated risk by tying a red banner to a stick, and running into the colony while waving it. The small herbivores lunge at Nigel and the flag while roaring, but he manages to get out unscathed. The cameraman, on the other hand, attempts to get through as well, but is held up by one Protoceratops continuously snapping at the camera cleaning brush, making it impossible to get past. Luckily, he eventually manages to deter the Protoceratops.

A nesting colony of Protoceratops

When Nigel arrives in the forest, he comes across a pack of Velociraptors, and after following them, he discovers they were after a big male Protoceratops. The ceratopsian growls and snaps at the raptors, though he is badly wounded. The herbivore continues to try to fight as the raptors surround it and slash him. He manages to snap one of the Velociraptor's arms, but is knocked down by another raptor. The Protoceratops finally dies from blood loss, and the Velociraptors begin to feed on it. This is the last appearance of Protoceratops in the episode.

Protoceratops vs. Velociraptor