Triceratops
Status: Fossil
genus of herbivorous dinosaur that lived around the end of the Cretaceous period. All species lived on the North American continent and are, like all the other dinosaurs, extinct now. It was about 9 metres (30 feet) long, and probably weighed around 5,400 kg.
Triceratops was discovered by John Bell Hatcher in 1888. Its declaration as a legitimate dinosaur came when an intact skull was found. Previous to this, it was misidentified as a type of buffalo. The sturdy nature of the animal's skull has ensured that many examples have been preserved as fossils, allowing variations between species and individuals to be studied.
Triceratops is a part of the Torosaurus, Protoceratops, Pentaceratops etc.
Triceratops belongs to the Ornithischian (that is, "bird hipped") dinosaurs, and was a quadruped. Owing to evidence from fossil trackways showing the footprints of dozens of individuals, Paleontologists believe that Triceratops lived in herds, similar to those of modern-day buffalo or moose. Its food was plants and shrubbery and its snout consisted of a sharp beak, which would have enabled it to break up and eat very tough vegetation. Behind the beak Triceratops had 2 lines of teeth for chewing the food.
The name Triceratops means "three horned face". This refers to the distinctive skull of Triceratops, which had a single horn on the snout above the nostrils, and a pair of horns approximately 1 metre (3 feet) long above the eyes. The rear of the skull consisted of a large bony frill.
Scientist think that the horns and the frill were used for several purposes:
- A means of defence against carnivores such as Tyrannosaurus rex.
- A means of communication between the herd members.
- A means of battling another Triceratops over female or territory.
- A means of courting females.
- A status symbol which reflects (or determines) the individual's status in the herd.
- Anchor points for the jaw muscles
- A means of increasing body area to regulate temperature
Known species of Triceratops include:
The Diceratops was formerly believed to be a species of Triceratops as well but is now believed to be a member of a seperate genus and species.
Triceratops is the official state fossil of South Dakota, and the official state dinosaur of Wyoming.
