Drag to rotate the Avaceratops, scroll or pinch to zoom, and click a body part - the brow horns, the frill, or a shoulder - to read what fossils tell us about it. The panel beside the model carries the real figures.
Avaceratops was a small Judith River ceratopsid from Montana - much smaller than Triceratops; turn on the human figure to see how a person compares to its body.
The colors and skin here are an artistic reconstruction; fossils preserve bone, not soft tissue or color. This model is not a fossil-accurate skeleton. The measurements in the panel follow published estimates, with ranges shown where sources disagree.
Avaceratops 3D Viewer
This page renders an Avaceratops as a 3D model you can spin in the browser - drag to rotate, scroll or pinch to zoom, toggle a 1.8 m person beside it for scale, and click the frill, a horn, or a leg to read a fact about that part.
Avaceratops lived in the Late Cretaceous, about 77 million years ago, in the Judith River Formation of Montana. Dodson named A. lammersi in 1986. It is among the smallest known ceratopsids. The holotype is about 2.3 m (maturity debated); a referred skull (MOR 692) implies about 4.2 m for a larger individual, with mass about 1 tonne for a 4 m animal (Paul 2010).
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Length | about 2.3 m (holotype) to about 4.2 m (referred adult estimate) |
| Standing height | about 1.5-1.8 m at the hips for a larger individual (proportionate estimate) |
| Weight | about 1 tonne for a roughly 4 m animal (Paul 2010) |
| When it lived | about 77 million years ago (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Everything runs on your device with WebGL - no account, nothing sent to a server. Soft-tissue color is an artistic reconstruction; this model is not a fossil-accurate skeleton. Compared with the larger Triceratops 3D Viewer and the long-brow-horned Albertaceratops 3D Viewer, Avaceratops reads as a small Montana ceratopsid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big was Avaceratops?
The holotype is about 2.3 m long (maturity debated). A referred skull implies about 4.2 m for a larger individual. Mass is about 1 tonne for a roughly 4 m animal. Turn on the human figure for scale.
How is Avaceratops different from Triceratops?
Avaceratops is much smaller and earlier (Judith River Campanian Montana). Triceratops is a later, giant chasmosaurine. This site also has Albertaceratops for a long-brow-horn centrosaurine comparison.
When and where did it live?
Late Cretaceous Campanian of Montana, about 77 million years ago (Judith River Formation). Named by Dodson in 1986.
What does the name mean?
Avaceratops honors Ava Cole, wife of fossil finder Eddie Cole; ceratops means horned face. The species name lammersi honors rancher Arthur J. Lammers.
Is the model scientifically accurate?
Proportions follow published figures with ranges, but skin color and soft tissue are artistic. This is not a fossil-accurate skeleton.
Do I need to install anything to view it?
No. The model renders in your browser with WebGL - no app, no account, and nothing about your visit is sent to a server. When available, a free-licensed glTF model may swap in after first paint.