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Interesting Facts About Triceratops

Marisa

Updated: Jan 20



Triceratops-one of the most well-known dinosaurs found in the western USA

The Triceratops is one of the most recognizable dinosaur species in modern culture. This ancient rhinoceros-like animal roamed the Earth during the Cretaceous and it was one of the most dominant herbivores of its time.


The first Triceratops was discovered in Denver, Colorado during the “Bone Wars” of the late 19th century by Othniel Marsh. He originally thought the giant set of horns he found belonged to a massive bison!


Read on for other interesting facts about Triceratops:

Name and Meaning

  • The name Triceratops comes from the Greek words

    • "tri" (three) + "keras" (horn) + "ops" (face), which adds up to mean "three-horned face."

  • It refers to the three facial horns the dinosaur had: two above its eyes (also called brow horns) and one on its nose. The brow horns could grow up to 3 feet in length.

The Triceratops’ Most Distinctive Feature—The Frill

  • One of the most striking features of Triceratops was its large bony frill at the back of its head. It’s unknown exactly why ceratopsians developed this frill, but researchers think the frill was probably used for:

    • Defense. In addition to its fearsome horns, the Triceratops likely used its frill for defense against predators like the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex. The frill might have helped protect its neck from T rex bites.

    • Display. It could have been used for mating displays or social interactions. The frill may have been brightly colored, much like the feathers of modern birds, and could have been used to attract mates or establish dominance.

    • Regulation of body temperature

Excavating a Triceratops Frill in Wyoming
Part of a Triceratops Frill excavated in the Hell Creek Formation of Wyoming

DID YOU KNOW: Triceratops aren’t the only animals with frills and horns, although they are the most well-known. The Triceratops is part of a larger group of horned dinosaurs known as ceratopsians a group of plant-eating, horned dinosaurs with beaked mouths. Other well-known relatives include Styracosaurus, Pachyrhinosaurus, and Torosaurus—all of which had similar frills and horns, though with slight differences in shape and size.


When Triceratops Lived

  • Triceratops lived during the late Cretaceous period, around 66 million years ago and died out during the K-Pg mass extinction event when a meteor struck the Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs and 60% of life on Earth.

  • This means that Triceratops was one of the last dinosaurs to roam the planet and was one of the last of the big dinosaurs alive on earth.

Where the Triceratops Lived

  • Triceratops fossils were first discovered in the late 1800s and quickly became one of the most famous dinosaurs of the Cretaceous period. Fossils have been found in North America, particularly in what is now Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming.


Excavate Triceratops and other dinosaurs and fossils on your next vacation at the Triceratops Gulch Project in Wyoming!


Size and Weight

  • Triceratops was a large dinosaur, growing up to 30 feet long (about the length of a school bus) and weighing between 6 to 12 tons.

Diet and Feeding Habits

  • As a herbivore, Triceratops mostly ate low-lying plants, including ferns, cycads, and conifers.

  • It had a beak-like mouth, which was ideal for cropping plants, grazing in open plains or forested areas.

Social and Herd Behavior

  • Evidence suggests that Triceratops might have lived in herds, which would have provided safety in numbers and helped protect each other from predators.

  • Fossilized remains of multiple Triceratops individuals found together imply that these dinosaurs could have traveled in groups.

 

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