Pentaceratops in 3D - click the frill, a brow horn, or a shoulder for a fact (full controls on the Dinosaurs 3D hub).
Pentaceratops was a Late Cretaceous ceratopsid from New Mexico best known for its huge frill and five horn-like projections on the face; turn on the human figure to see how a person compares to its body.
The measurements in the panel follow published estimates, with ranges shown where sources disagree.
Pentaceratops 3D Viewer
Turn Pentaceratops around with a drag, zoom with scroll or pinch, and line it up against a 1.8 m person for scale. Clicking the frill, a brow horn, or a shoulder brings up a short fact panel for that part.
Pentaceratops lived in the Late Cretaceous, about 76 to 73 million years ago, in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico. Length estimates run about 5.5 to 7 m (commonly cited near 6 m); mass estimates run about 2.5 to 3 tonnes. Its name means "five-horned face" for two brow horns, one nose horn, and two smaller cheek projections beneath a huge frill - different from Triceratops (three horns, no cheek projections) and Albertaceratops (long brow horns, earlier and from Alberta, no cheek projections).
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Length | about 5.5-7 m (commonly cited near 6 m) |
| Skull length | about 2.16-2.3 m in known specimens - among the largest skulls of any land animal |
| Weight | about 2.5-3 tonnes commonly cited |
| When it lived | about 76-73 million years ago (Late Cretaceous) |
| Diet | Herbivore |
No install and no account - this model renders locally in your browser through WebGL, and nothing about the visit reaches a server.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Pentaceratops called "five-horned face"?
The name refers to two brow horns, one nose horn, and two smaller pointed cheek projections beneath the frill - five horn-like structures on the skull in total.
How big was Pentaceratops?
Published estimates usually fall around 5.5 to 7 m long (commonly cited near 6 m) and about 2.5 to 3 tonnes. Its skull alone ran about 2.16 to 2.3 m in known specimens. Turn on the human figure to see the scale against a 1.8 m person.
When and where did it live?
In the Late Cretaceous, about 76 to 73 million years ago, in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico (Kirtland and Fruitland Formations). The holotype skull was collected there in the early 1920s.
How is it different from Triceratops or Albertaceratops?
Triceratops has three facial horns and a shorter frill. Albertaceratops is an earlier centrosaurine from Alberta with long brow horns but no cheek projections. Pentaceratops is a chasmosaurine with an especially large frill and the extra pair of cheek projections that give it its name. This site has separate viewers for comparison.
Is the model scientifically accurate?
The proportions follow published figures, but soft-tissue color is an artistic reconstruction. This model is not a fossil-accurate skeleton. Length, weight, and age figures are real published values, with ranges cited because sources vary.
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.