Definition

Noun: A genus of extinct, primitive ceratopsian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous period. It was a small, herbivorous dinosaur characterized by a parrot-like beak, a short bony frill at the back of its skull, and a body plan with longer hind limbs than forelimbs, suggesting it could move bipedally.

Usage Examples

• The well-preserved fossil of a psittacosaurus showed clear impressions of its bristle-like feathers.
• Psittacosaurus is often studied by paleontologists to understand the early evolution of horned dinosaurs.
• Several species of psittacosaurus have been identified from fossils found in Asia.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used in scientific and paleontological contexts to refer to this specific genus. It is often discussed in relation to the evolution of more derived ceratopsians like .
• "Psittacosaurus posture": A phrase sometimes used in paleontology to describe the debated stance (obligate biped vs. facultative quadruped) of this dinosaur.

Variants and Related Words

• Psittacosaur (noun): An alternative, shorter common name for psittacosaurus.
• Ceratopsian (noun): The larger group (clade/suborder) of herbivorous, beaked dinosaurs to which psittacosaurus belongs, which includes later forms with large horns and frills.

Synonyms

• Parrot-beaked dinosaur (descriptive synonym)
• Psittacosaur

Different Meanings

This word has a single, specific meaning in paleontology. It does not have other common definitions or usages in modern English.

Idioms and Phrases

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs containing "psittacosaurus" in general English usage due to its highly specialized scientific nature.

Noun

1. primitive dinosaur actually lacking horns and having only the beginning of a frill; long hind limbs and short forelimbs; may have been bipedal