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Description
By the Early Eocene, the great Chasmosaurine Ceratopsians of North America were extinct. For the remainder of the period, however, their Uintaceratopsine relatives simply stepped into the niches left by their more ancient cousins. This group of Ceratopsids were defined by elongated brow horns, comparatively short neck frills and stubby nasal horns. Huge herds of these animals roamed across North America and Eurasia, their remains uncovered in vast bone beds comprising dozens of individuals of varying ages. By the end of the Eocene, some Uintaceratopsines had grown to enormous sizes and appear to have been moving into an almost Sauropod-like mode of existence.

Indeed, the largest and last North American member of this group, Brontoceratops imperator, measured up to 15m long and weighed in excess of 13 tonnes. This massive animal possessed some anatomical features that were quite atypical for Ceratopsids. For one thing, its skull was unusually small in comparison to the size of its body. This, combined with a long neck and upright stance, has led paleontologists to suggest a browsing for this genus. Interestingly, while its smaller relatives were clearing herding animals, Brontoceratops specimens have always been found alone. This is likely not due to taphonomic bias as this genus was actually rather common, making up 20% of the dinosaur fauna at some sites. It is therefore probable that these beasts lived a solitary existence, only coming together to mate. As North America was devoid of Sauropods at this time, both Brontoceratops and Lambeosaurine Hadrosaurs exploited the high browser niche unopposed. However, when environmental conditions began to change at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary, Brontoceratops (and all other Ceratopsids for that matter) became extinct. Their Leptoceratopsid relatives were waiting in the wings, biding their time ......

Image illustrated by Sheather888. Check out his work!

Description
By the Early Eocene, the great Chasmosaurine Ceratopsians of North America were extinct. For the remainder of the period, however, their Uintaceratopsine relatives simply stepped into the niches left by their more ancient cousins. This group of Ceratopsids were defined by elongated brow horns, comparatively short neck frills and stubby nasal horns. Huge herds of these animals roamed across North America and Eurasia, their remains uncovered in vast bone beds comprising dozens of individuals of varying ages. By the end of the Eocene, some Uintaceratopsines had grown to enormous sizes and appear to have been moving into an almost Sauropod-like mode of existence.

Indeed, the largest and last North American member of this group, Brontoceratops imperator, measured up to 15m long and weighed in excess of 13 tonnes. This massive animal possessed some anatomical features that were quite atypical for Ceratopsids. For one thing, its skull was unusually small in comparison to the size of its body. This, combined with a long neck and upright stance, has led paleontologists to suggest a browsing for this genus. Interestingly, while its smaller relatives were clearing herding animals, Brontoceratops specimens have always been found alone. This is likely not due to taphonomic bias as this genus was actually rather common, making up 20% of the dinosaur fauna at some sites. It is therefore probable that these beasts lived a solitary existence, only coming together to mate. As North America was devoid of Sauropods at this time, both Brontoceratops and Lambeosaurine Hadrosaurs exploited the high browser niche unopposed. However, when environmental conditions began to change at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary, Brontoceratops (and all other Ceratopsids for that matter) became extinct. Their Leptoceratopsid relatives were waiting in the wings, biding their time ......

Image illustrated by Sheather888. Check out his work!