Bryan Kneale (B. 1930) "Protoceratops"

Lot description

Bryan Kneale (British, B. 1930) "Dinosaurs - Protoceratops" Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Great Britain Owen's Dinosauria 1841 33p Protoceratops stamp issued August 20, 1991. The Protoceratops was one of the most primitive species of dinosaur. A predecessor of later great horned dinosaurs, the Protoceratops was slightly larger than the modern alligator and probably evolved -- like so many other herbivores -- from a bipedal ancestor. The Protoceratops' large head was partially encircled by a bony frill which protected its vulnerable neck area from a predator's deadly attack, but this dinosaur lacked the sharp horns which gave its Triceratops descendents their fierce and combative appearance. A beak-like mouth suited its vegetarian diet, but the creature possessed only a few teeth in its upper jaw and probably eschewed fibrous palm fronds in favor of tender, easily masticated shoots. The animal's well-developed tail contained long vertical spines, indicating to some researchers a partially-aquatic lifestyle. Like other larger herbivores, the Protoceratops traveled in groups or herds. In recent decades, scientists have uncovered more than eighty individual specimens in all stages of development -- from whole, unbroken eggs complete with intact embryo to older animals at the end of their lifecycle. These valuable finds -- many of them unearthed in Mongolia -- will in time produce priceless additional data on this ancient creature. The Protoceratops was one of the Dinosaur Era's first species and one of science's most fertile sources for paleontologic research. Image Size: 9.25 x 21.75 in. Overall Size: 23.75 x 30.25 in. Unframed. (B13213)