Triceratops horridus

Triceratops horridus (three horned face)

Kingdom- Animalia
Phylum- Chordata
Class- Reptilia
Order- Onithischia
Suborder-Ceratopsia
Family- Ceratopsidue
Genus- Triceratops

Diet: Herbivore

Height: 10 feet

Length: 30 feet

Weight: 4 to 6 tons

Time of Habitation: Late Cretaceous period 68-65 million years ago

Place of Habitation: Western north America

Triceratops were among the first dinosaurs to be found. The Triceratops was found in 1889 in Lance Creek, Wyoming. Some call Triceratops "The Last Dinosaur" because it is a rather common find in the youngest Cretaceous rock formations. Unlike other Ceratopsians the Triceratops frill was solid. Most Ceratopsians had large holes in the frill bone where jaw bones might have connected. The Triceratops however had a solid bone for it's frill. The jaw muscles still might have attached to the frill allowing more bite power for slicing up tough vegetation.

It was  highly debated whether or not Triceratops was capable of increased speed. It is now thought that the Triceratops could gallop like the modern day rhinoceroses. Triceratops got it's name from the three horns on it's head, two horns on it's frill above it's eyes and a horn on it's nose. These horns paired with the 6 foot wide frill made an excellent pair for numerous possible purposes. The frill might have been to protect the neck of the Triceratops from predators. Though the fossils of Triceratops do not indicate very long or sharp horns, it is thought that the horns were sheathed by a layer of keratin which is the same substance as human fingernails. These long sharp horns would have been perfect for charging predators and inflicting serious wounds.

There is slight speculation that the frill might have been for thermal regulation. Due to the presence of blood vessels in the frill, the most widely accepted theory is that the frill was used for display. These possible display uses range from attracting a mate, to territorial displays, to males challenging one another for the right to mate. The horns would then have been used between males when flashing frills didn't determine a dominant male. There are specimens of Triceratops from all ages, hatchling to adult. Numerous complete skulls have been found as well. Even with all the Triceratops fossils that have been found there is still much to learn.


Sources:
Dinosaur 1990 St. Martin's Press
Lessem, Don Dinosaurs A to Z 2003 scholastic ink
Big Book of Dinosaurs 2001 Running Press Book Publishers
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