Zuniceratops, which means “Zuni-horned face” is a ceratopsian dinosaur genus originating from the mid Turonian period within the Late Cretaceous Period, situated in what is now New Mexico, United States. This genus encompasses a single recognized species, Zuniceratops christopheri. It thrived roughly 10 million years earlier than the more well-known horned Ceratopsidae, providing valuable insights into their evolutionary lineage. Zuniceratops was approximately 2.2 meters (7.2 feet) in length and likely weighed around 175 kilograms (386 pounds), making it notably smaller than most ceratopsids.

The skull of Zuniceratops featured a well-developed pair of brow horns, akin to those seen in chasmosaurs and early centrosaurs, although it lacked a nose horn. The brow horns are believed to have grown considerably larger as the animal aged. The snout was elongated and low, resembling that of chasmosaurines. The frill, a thin, wide, shield-like structure, bore a pair of significant openings but lacked epoccipital bones, similar to Protoceratops. In general, its anatomy was more primitive than ceratopsids but more advanced than protoceratopsids. Zuniceratops serves as a transitional species, bridging the gap between early ceratopsians and the later, larger ceratopsids with prominent horns and frills, supporting the notion that the ceratopsian dinosaur lineage likely originated in North America.

Initial specimens of Zuniceratops had single-rooted teeth, an uncommon trait for ceratopsians. However, later fossils exhibited double-rooted teeth, indicating that tooth structure changed with age, becoming double-rooted as the animal matured. Like other ceratopsians, Zuniceratops was an herbivore and probably lived in herds. Its frill had fenestrations, meaning it wasn't solid bone but contained two large holes covered with skin. While this structure was not likely a form of defense, as the skin-covered holes wouldn't deter predators, it's more probable that the frill served a display function, allowing Zuniceratops to communicate with others of its species.

In juvenile individuals, the teeth were single-rooted, only developing double roots as they matured. Additionally, the horns are believed to have continually grown throughout the animal's life, with the largest specimens belonging to the oldest individuals.