Triceratops Common name: Triceratops (Try-ser-uh-tops) Size: 7.9 to 9.0 m (26.0–29.5 ft) in le

TriceratopsCommon name: Triceratops (Try-ser-uh-tops)Size: 7.9 to 9.0 m (26.0–29.5 ft) in lengthAge: End of Cretaceous (67 - 65 million years ago)Geographic range: North AmericaLiked: GrazingDisliked: the T-RexTaxonomy: Animalia > Chordata > Dinosauria > Ornithiscia > Ceratopsidae > TriceratopsThree horns and a bony neck frill make the Triceratops one of the most recognized dinosaurs. The name Triceratops is Greek in origin and literally means three horns on face. This elephant-sized dino roamed around North America near the end of the Cretaceous Period, approximately 67 to 65 million years ago.Triceratops was an herbivore, eating mostly plants, and shrubs. Past studies have shown Triceratops used its parrot-like beak to grasp and pluck leaves rather than biting them off, and could have used both its horns and its massive body to tip over tall plants. Triceratops’ mouth was packed with up to 800 teeth that were constantly being replenished over its lifetime. Man that’s a lot of teeth!The very first Triceratops bones were discovered in Denver in the year 1887. The bones were sent to Othniel Charles Marsh, who first thought they might belong to a bison. It wasn’t until the following year, in 1888, that he named the creature Triceratops after subsequent bones were unearthed. To date, over 50 individual skulls have been dug up, but not one single, complete skeleton.Only partial skeletons and skulls – including infant dinos – have been found across Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming and parts of Canada. This shows Triceratops was confined to North America, which makes sense as the present day North American continent had already split and drifted away from Europe and South America by the time the three-horns came along.They have been traditionally characterized as herding animals, although that is still up for debate. Up until 2009, unearthed Tricertops fossils have always been of solitary animals. In 2009, a bonebed was discovered containing three juvenile specimens, indicating they made be herd animals after all.The dinosaur was equipped with strong limbs to support its massive body. Its forelimbs, which were shorter than the rear ones, were believed to allow the dinosaur to walk upright like an elephant, rather than bowed-out like a lizard.Triceratops had one of the largest heads of all land animals, some even spanning one-third of the dinosaur’s body. The largest skull ever dug up measured 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) in length. The largest specimen ever found spanned over 30 feet (9 meters) and weighed in at a whopping 15,750 pounds (7150 kg).The bony neck frill, officially called a flounce, acted as more than just body armor to the Triceratops. Although the main use was for defense – against other Triceratops and predators like the T-Rex – studies show the frill was also used as a visual display in activities such as mating, and communication. It has even been suggested to help regulate body temperature.Fun fact: The Triceratops is the state dinosaur of Wyoming.-ALTImage Credit: The SmithsonianSource: http://bit.ly/1FU7t9Vhttp://bit.ly/1ctt2CVhttp://bit.ly/1JuUt9Whttp://bit.ly/1ctt2CVhttp://bit.ly/1H56VQd -- source link

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