Although most early ceratopsians are known from Asia, during the Early-to-Mid Cretaceous a few dispersed across to North America via a land connection in Beringia.
These migration events happened at least three times, and Aquilops (“eagle face”) was part of the first wave of immigrants, dating to 109-100 mya and representing one of the earliest ceratopsians discovered in North America. Known from a single tiny skull found in Montana, USA, its full size would have been only around 60cm long (2′) – about the size of a large rabbit.
The narrow triangular shape of its snout suggests it was probably a selective browser, feeding on leaves and soft shoots in low-level foliage. Its hooked beak also had a raised bump on the front, which may have supported a larger display structure such as a horn.