Triceratops fossil

Triceratops fossil

Triceratops is a herbivorous dinosaur belonging to the family Ceratopsidae in the order Ornithischia. It is a dinosaur resembling a rhinoceros, with a bulky appearance, thick legs, three horns on the head, and a large bone plate extending backwards at the back of the skull to form a neck shield. There is a short horn above the beak and two long horns above the eye sockets. The horns of Triceratops are defensive weapons that can scare off predators. The tail is short and pointed, and the feet are like hooves. Distributed in North America, it lived in the late Cretaceous period, approximately 68 to 65 million years ago. Triceratops often take advantage of their clustered lifestyle to protect their young; When facing enemies, often bow down and use horns to resist predators.
Fossil of Triceratops Bone from Oxford University Natural History Museum

Fossil of Triceratops Bone from Oxford University Natural History Museum

The name Triceratops means triangular face, referring to a small horn and two large horns on the skull. Triceratops is 7.3 meters long and weighs over 6 tons. It is a herbivorous animal with a jaw equipped with constantly changing teeth, specifically designed for cutting hard plant materials. The horns and folds of Triceratops have sparked a lot of speculation, but they are likely used for display and combat to maintain social dominance and defend territory and mates. Triceratops locked its horns in individual pushing and twisting battles, with the huge folds at the back of the skull serving as shields to deflect opponents' horns and protect fragile neck and shoulder muscles.