Chasmosaurus belli was a quadrupedal herbivore with a distinctive skull. Its name, which means "large gape lizard," refers to the fenestrations or openings in its skull bone, features that were prominent in this genus. The belli species was named after paleontologist Charles H. Sternberg.
The skull of Chasmosaurus belli featured large horns over the eyes and a long bony crest on the back of the skull. This crest varies in shape and size between different species of Chasmosaurus and played an important role in visual communication and possibly thermoregulation.
Regarding the body, Chasmosaurus belli had a robust body and a relatively long tail. It is estimated that it was around 4 to 5 meters in length, being smaller compared to some other ceratopsids. As a herbivore, it fed mainly on low plants, using its horny beak to tear off leaves and branches.
Chasmosaurus belli is known from fossil remains found primarily in geological formations in Alberta, Canada.
Approximate measurements of the Chasmosaurus:
- Scale 1:35
- Length 125 mm
- Height 63 mm
- Width 31 mm
- Snout-tail length 138 mm
- Scale 1:20
- Length 219 mm
- Height 110 mm
- Width 53 mm
- Snout-tail length 241 mm