Psittacosaurus, or the ‘parrot lizard’, was a small plant eating dinosaur that lived in Mongolia and China during the Early Cretaceous, 100 to 120 million years ago. About the size of a large dog, this peaceful creature used its beak and rough teeth to cut and crush tough plants. Recent discoveries revealed the skin color and pattern of Psittacosaurus and also showed that it had an unusual row of bristles along the top of its tail, which is reflected in our Psittacosaurus toy.
-
History: A wealth of fossil material, including adults, juveniles, and babies, makes Psittacosaurus one of the best-known of all the dinosaurs. Soft tissues have even been found preserved in a Psittacosaurus skeleton discovered in Liaoning Province, China. This impressive fossil shows the outline of the body and even indicates the color and pattern of the skin, which was darker on top and lighter underneath. It also shows a row of bristles running along the top of the tail, which may have been for show.
-
Scientific Name: Psittacosaurus mongoliensis
-
Characteristics: Psittacosaurus was a small herbivore with a deep beak reminiscent of a parrot’s. It had a very wide head with spikes that protruded from its cheeks. It walked on two legs, but could also rest on its shorter arms. A row of long bristles protruded from top of its tail.
-
Size: This accurately bristled Psittacosaurus toy figure is 5.25 inches long and 1.75 inches high. Its spotted brown color, darker on top and lighter below, reflects the latest scientific discoveries.
- The Psittacosaurus is part of the Wild Safari® Prehistoric World collection
- Non-toxic and BPA free
