Protoceratops andrewsi Late Cretaceous, Campanian Age (75 Million Years Old) Djadokhta Formation, Central Asia A primitive neoceratopsian and a likely ancestor to the famed Triceratops, Protoceratops is one of the best-studied dinosaur species of all time. Though the "frill" of this species looks small and ineffectual, the evolutionary contribution of this feature to later ceratopsians, such as Triceratops, cannot be overstated. Protoceratops was discovered during the famous dinosaur hunting expeditions to Central Asia financed by the American Museum of Natural History of New York, during the 1920's. The first expeditions, into the remote deserts of Mongolia, were led by the charismatic paleontologist, Roy Chapman Andrews. Along with Protoceratops skulls and skeletons, Andrews' groups also found the first dinosaur egg nests to be discovered. The nests, thought to belong to Protoceratops, drew great publicity and were exhibited to throngs of early dinosauria enthusiasts. So much interest was generated that the American Museum succeeded in auctioning off one egg for the equivalent of $130,000 in today's currency. The present specimen, of exceptional quality, has been prepared on its original matrix. The skull is superb, boasting most of the original teeth. Overall measures 62 x 28 x 20in; Specimen measures 56 x 24in; Skull measures 20in
Protoceratops andrewsi Late Cretaceous, Campanian Age (75 Million Years Old) Djadokhta Formation, Central Asia A primitive neoceratopsian and a likely ancestor to the famed Triceratops, Protoceratops is one of the best-studied dinosaur species of all time. Though the "frill" of this species looks small and ineffectual, the evolutionary contribution of this feature to later ceratopsians, such as Triceratops, cannot be overstated. Protoceratops was discovered during the famous dinosaur hunting expeditions to Central Asia financed by the American Museum of Natural History of New York, during the 1920's. The first expeditions, into the remote deserts of Mongolia, were led by the charismatic paleontologist, Roy Chapman Andrews. Along with Protoceratops skulls and skeletons, Andrews' groups also found the first dinosaur egg nests to be discovered. The nests, thought to belong to Protoceratops, drew great publicity and were exhibited to throngs of early dinosauria enthusiasts. So much interest was generated that the American Museum succeeded in auctioning off one egg for the equivalent of $130,000 in today's currency. The present specimen, of exceptional quality, has been prepared on its original matrix. The skull is superb, boasting most of the original teeth. Overall measures 62 x 28 x 20in; Specimen measures 56 x 24in; Skull measures 20in
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
