Triceratops (IPA: /tɹaɪ'sɛɹətɒps/) was a herbivorous genus of ceratopsid dinosaur that lived during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period, around 68 to 65 million years ago (mya) in what is now North America. It was one of the last dinosaur genera to appear before the great Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event.^[1] Bearing a large bony frill and three horns on its large four-legged body, and conjuring similarities with the modern rhinoceros, Triceratops is one of the most recognizable of all dinosaurs. The name Triceratops, which literally means "three-horned face," is derived from the Greek tri/τρι- meaning "three," ceras/κέρας meaning "horn," and -ops/ωψ meaning "face."^[2] Though it shared the landscape with and was preyed upon by the fearsome Tyrannosaurus, it is unclear whether the two battled the way they are commonly depicted in movies and children's dinosaur books and many cartoons. Geography of the US in the Late Cretaceous Period Late Cretaceous (100mya - 65mya) refers to the second half of the Cretaceous Period, named after the famous white chalk cliffs of southern England, which date from this time. ... Image File history File links Triceratops_brussels_email. ... The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences is a museum in the Belgian capital of Brussels dedicated to natural history. ... For other places with the same name, see Brussels (disambiguation). ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... For other uses, see Fossil (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Reptilia redirects here. ... Orders & Suborders Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Theropoda Ornithischia Thyreophora Ornithopoda Marginocephalia Dinosaurs were vertebrate animals that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 160 million years, first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. ... Suborders Thyreophora Cerapoda    Ornithopoda    Marginocephalia Ornithischia is an order of beaked, herbivorous dinosaurs. ... Suborders Ornithopoda Marginocephalia Pachycephalosauria] Ceratopsia Triceratops skeleton at the National Museum of Natural History The Cerapoda are a clade of the order Ornithischia. ... The Ceratopsia are a group of omnivorous and herbivorous, beaked dinosaurs which thrived in North America and Asia during the Cretaceous. ... Genera Centrosaurinae    Achelousaurus    Centrosaurus    Einiosaurus    Styracosaurus    Pachyrhinosaurus Ceratopsinae    Chasmosaurus    Diceratops    Pentaceratops    Protoceratops    Torosaurus    Triceratops Ceratopsids, or members of the Ceratopsidae (or Ceratopidae), are a diverse group of marginocephalian dinosaurs like Triceratops and Styracosaurus. ... Genera See text. ... Othniel Charles Marsh (1831-1899) Othniel Charles Marsh (October 29, 1831 - March 18, 1899) was one of the pre-eminent paleontologists of the 19th century, who discovered and named many fossils found in the American West. ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... In zoological nomenclature, a type is a specimen or a taxon. ... Othniel Charles Marsh (1831-1899) Othniel Charles Marsh (October 29, 1831 - March 18, 1899) was one of the pre-eminent paleontologists of the 19th century, who discovered and named many fossils found in the American West. ... This chart shows concisely the most common way in which the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is applied to represent the English language. ... A deer and two fawns feeding on some foliage A herbivore is often defined as any organism that eats only plants[1]. By that definition, many fungi, some bacteria, many animals, about 1% of flowering plants and some protists can be considered herbivores. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Genera Centrosaurinae    Achelousaurus    Centrosaurus    Einiosaurus    Styracosaurus    Pachyrhinosaurus Ceratopsinae    Chasmosaurus    Diceratops    Pentaceratops    Protoceratops    Torosaurus    Triceratops Ceratopsids, or members of the Ceratopsidae (or Ceratopidae), are a diverse group of marginocephalian dinosaurs like Triceratops and Styracosaurus. ... Orders & Suborders Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Theropoda Ornithischia Thyreophora Ornithopoda Marginocephalia Dinosaurs were vertebrate animals that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 160 million years, first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. ... The Maastrichtian is the last stage of the Cretaceous period, and therefore of the Mesozoic era. ... // The Cretaceous Period is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic Period (i. ... A geologic period is a subdivision of geologic time that divides an era into smaller timeframes. ... For other uses of mya, see mya (disambiguation). ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Badlands near Drumheller, Alberta where erosion has exposed the KT boundary. ... Neck frill is the popular term for the parietal, a margin of bone extending from the back of skulls of dinosaurs of the suborder Marginocephalia. ... Highland cow, a very old long-horned breed from Scotland. ... Black Rhino from Howletts Wild Animal Park For other uses, see Rhinoceros (disambiguation). ... Predator and Prey redirect here. ... Species T. rex (type) Osborn, 1905 Synonyms Manospondylus Cope, 1892 Dynamosaurus Osborn, 1905  ?Nanotyrannus Bakker, Williams & Currie, 1988 Stygivenator Olshevsky, 1995 Dinotyrannus Olshevsky, 1995 Tyrannosaurus (IPA pronunciation or , meaning tyrant lizard) is a genus of theropod dinosaur. ...

Although no complete skeleton has been found,^[3] Triceratops is well-known from numerous partial specimens collected since the introduction of the genus in 1887. The function of their frills and three distinctive facial horns has long inspired debate. Although traditionally viewed as defensive weapons against predators, the latest theories claim that it is more probable that these features were used in courtship and dominance displays, much like the antlers and horns of modern reindeer, mountain goats, or rhinoceros beetles.^[4] IT FEELS REALLY GOOD IF YOU IMATATE THE ANIMALS. LOL! “Mounting” redirects here. ... For the Poet Laureate of Milwaukee, see Antler (Poet). ... “Caribou” redirects here. ... Rocky Mountain Goat and Mountain Goats redirect here. ... Genera See text. ...

Triceratops is the best-known of the ceratopsids, though the genus's exact placement within the group has been a point of contention amongst paleontologists. Two species, T. horridus and T. prorsus, are considered valid, although many other species have been named. Paleontology, palaeontology or palæontology (from Greek: paleo, ancient; ontos, being; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ...

Description

Triceratops compared in size with a human

Individual Triceratops are estimated to have reached about 7.9-9.0 m (26.0-29.5 ft) in length, 2.9-3.0 m (9.5-9.8 ft) in height^[5][6], and 6.1-12.0 tonnes (13,400-26,455 lb) in weight^[7][8]. The most distinctive feature is their large skull, among the largest of all land animals. It could grow to be over 2 m (6.6 ft) in length,^[4] and could reach almost a third of the length of the entire animal^[3]. It bore a single horn on the snout, above the nostrils, and a pair of horns approximately 1 m (3.3 ft) long, with one above each eye. To the rear of the skull was a relatively short, bony frill. Most other frilled dinosaurs had large fenestrae in their frills, while the frills of Triceratops were noticeably solid. Image File history File links Human-triceratops_size_comparison. ... Image File history File links Human-triceratops_size_comparison. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A tonne or metric ton (symbol t), sometimes referred to as a metric tonne, is a measurement of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms. ... The pound or pound-mass (abbreviations: lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States, #) is a unit of mass (sometimes called weight in everyday parlance) in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... For other uses of Skull, see Skull (disambiguation). ... A nostril is one of the two channels of the nose, from the point where they bifurcate to the external opening. ... Are small pores in epithelial cells to allow for rapid exchange of molecules between blood vessels and surrounding tissue. ...

Triceratops species possessed a sturdy build, with strong limbs and short five-hoofed hands and four-hoofed feet.^[9] Although certainly quadrupedal, the posture of these dinosaurs has long been the subject of some debate. Originally, it was believed that the front legs of the animal had to be sprawling at angles from the thorax, in order to better bear the weight of the head^[4]. This stance can be seen in paintings by Charles Knight and Rudolph Zallinger. However, ichnological evidence in the form of trackways from horned dinosaurs, and recent reconstructions of skeletons (both physical and digital) seem to show that Triceratops maintained an upright stance during normal locomotion, with the elbows slightly bowed out, in an intermediate state between fully upright and fully sprawling (as in the modern rhinoceros)^[10][11]. This conclusion does not preclude a sprawling gait for confrontations or feeding. The Zebra is an example of a quadruped. ... Sprawl can refer to: urban sprawl (also called suburban sprawl) The metropolitan region stretching from Boston to Atlanta in William Gibsons fiction, see The Sprawl. ... Diagram of a tsetse fly, showing the head, thorax and abdomen The thorax is a division of an animals body that lies between the head and the abdomen. ... Allosaurus by Charles R. Knight. ... Rudolph Franz Zallinger (born November 12, 1919 in Irkutsk, Siberia, died August 1, 1995) was an American-based artist notable for his mural Age of Reptiles at the Yale Peabody Museum completed in 1947. ... Ichnology is the branch of paleontology dealing with the study of fossilized footprints, tracks and burrows. ...

Classification

Side view of Triceratops skeleton. See also its head.

Triceratops is the best known genus of the Ceratopsidae, a family of large North American horned dinosaurs. The exact location of Triceratops among the ceratopsians has been debated over the years. Confusion stemmed mainly from the combination of short, solid frills (similar to that of Centrosaurinae), and the long brow horns (more akin to Ceratopsinae, also known as Chasmosaurinae). In the first overview of horned dinosaurs, R. S. Lull hypothesized two lineages, one of Monoclonius and Centrosaurus leading to Triceratops, the other with Ceratops and Torosaurus, making Triceratops a centrosaurine as the group is understood today.^[12] Later revisions supported this view, formally describing the first, short-frilled group as Centrosaurinae (including Triceratops), and the second, long-frilled group as Chasmosaurinae.^[13][14] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 487 pixelsFull resolution (2799 × 1703 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 487 pixelsFull resolution (2799 × 1703 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (3008 × 2000 pixel, file size: 1. ... Genera Centrosaurinae    Achelousaurus    Centrosaurus    Einiosaurus    Styracosaurus    Pachyrhinosaurus Ceratopsinae    Chasmosaurus    Diceratops    Pentaceratops    Protoceratops    Torosaurus    Triceratops Ceratopsids, or members of the Ceratopsidae (or Ceratopidae), are a diverse group of marginocephalian dinosaurs like Triceratops and Styracosaurus. ... The Ceratopsia are a group of omnivorous and herbivorous, beaked dinosaurs which thrived in North America and Asia during the Cretaceous. ... The Centrosaurinae are characterized by their prominent nasal horns, subordinate brow horns, short squamosals in a short frill, a tall, deep face relative to the ceratopines, and a projection into the rear of the nasal fenestra. ... Genera Centrosaurinae    Achelousaurus    Centrosaurus    Einiosaurus    Styracosaurus    Pachyrhinosaurus Ceratopsinae    Chasmosaurus    Diceratops    Pentaceratops    Protoceratops    Torosaurus    Triceratops Ceratopsids, or members of the Ceratopsidae (or Ceratopidae), are a diverse group of marginocephalian dinosaurs like Triceratops and Styracosaurus. ... R.S. Lull was an American paleontologist from the early 20th century, who is largely remembered now for championing a Pre-Neo-Darwinian Synthesis view of evolution, whereby mutation(s) could unlock mysterious genetic drives that, over time, would lead populations to increasingly extreme phenotypes (and perhaps, ultimately, to extinction). ... Species See text. ... Species Centrosaurus (”pointed lizard) is an herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period of North America about 75 million years ago. ... Ceratops (horn face) was a ceratopsian dinosaur from Late Cretaceous Montana and Colorado. ... Binomial name Marsh, 1891 Torosaurus (perforated lizard) was a ceratopsid dinosaur species. ...

In 1949, C. M. Sternberg was the first to question this and favoured instead that Triceratops was more closely related to Arrhinoceratops and Chasmosaurus based on skull and horn features, making Triceratops a ceratopsine (chasmosaurine of his usage) genus.^[15] However, he was largely ignored with John Ostrom,^[16] and later David Norman, both placing Triceratops within Centrosaurinae.^[17] Charles Mortram Sternberg (1885 – 1981) was an American fossil collector and paleontologist, son of Charles Hazelius Sternberg. ... Arrhinoceratops was a ceratopsian from Late Cretaceous Canada. ... Species Chasmosaurus (KAZ-mo-sawr-us) is a ceratopsid dinosaur genus from the Upper Cretaceous Period of North America. ... John Ostrom John H. Ostrom (February 18, 1928 – July 16, 2005) was an American paleontologist who revolutionized modern understanding of dinosaurs in the 1960s, when he demonstrated that dinosaurs are more like big non-flying birds than they are like lizards (or saurians), an idea first proposed by Thomas Henry...

Subsequent discoveries and analyses upheld Sternberg's view on the position of Triceratops, with Lehman defining both subfamilies in 1990 and diagnosing Triceratops as ceratopsine (chasmosaurine of his usage) on the basis of several morphological features. In fact, it fits well into the ceratopsine subfamily, apart from its one feature of a shortened frill.^[18] Further research by Peter Dodson, including a 1990 cladistic analysis^[19] and a 1993 study using RFTRA (resistant-fit theta-rho analysis),^[20] a morphometric technique which systematically measures similarities in skull shape, reinforces Triceratops' placement in the ceratopsine subfamily. Peter Dodson is an American paleontologist who has published many papers and written and collaborated on books about dinosaurs. ... It has been suggested that Clade be merged into this article or section. ... Generally, morphometrics (from the Greek: morph, meaning shape or form, and metron”, meaning measurement) comprises methods of extracting measurements from shapes. ...

Use in phylogenetics

In phylogenetic taxonomy, the genus has been used as a reference point in the definition of Dinosauria; Dinosaurs have been designated as all descendants of the most recent common ancestor of Triceratops and Neornithes (i.e. modern birds).^[21] Furthermore, the bird-hipped dinosaurs, Ornithischia, have been designated as all dinosaurs with a more recent common ancestor to Triceratops than modern birds.^[22] Phylogenetic groups, or taxa, can be monophyletic, paraphyletic, or polyphyletic. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... Suborders Thyreophora Cerapoda    Ornithopoda    Marginocephalia Ornithischia is an order of beaked, herbivorous dinosaurs. ...

Origins

For many years the origins of Triceratops have been largely obscure. In 1922, the newly discovered Protoceratops was seen as its ancestor by Henry Fairfield Osborn,^[23] but many decades passed before additional findings came to light. However, recent years have been fruitful for the discovery of several dinosaurs related to ancestors of Triceratops. Zuniceratops, the earliest known ceratopsian with brow horns, was described in the late 1990s, and Yinlong, the first known Jurassic ceratopsian, in 2005. Protoceratops is a sheep-sized, herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. ... Henry Fairfield Osborn (August 8, 1857 — November 6, 1935) was an American paleontologist and geologist. ... Binomial name Zuniceratops christopheri Wolfe & Kirkland, 1998 Zuniceratops (Zuni-horned face) was a Ceratopsian dinosaur from the mid Turonian of the Late Cretaceous Period of what is now New Mexico, USA. It lived about 10 million years earlier than the more familiar horned Ceratopsidae and provides an important window on... Binomial name Yinlong downsi Xu, Forster, Clark, & Mo, 2006 Yinlong (meaning hidden dragon) is a genus of basal ceratopsian dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Period of central Asia. ... The Jurassic Period is a major unit of the geologic timescale that extends from about 199. ...

These new finds have been vital in illustrating the origins of horned dinosaurs in general, suggesting an Asian origin in the Jurassic, and the appearance of truly horned ceratopsians by the beginning of the late Cretaceous in North America.^[9] As Triceratops is increasingly shown to be a member of the long-frilled Ceratopsinae subfamily, a likely ancestor may have resembled Chasmosaurus, which thrived some 5 million years earlier. For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Species Chasmosaurus (KAZ-mo-sawr-us) is a ceratopsid dinosaur genus from the Upper Cretaceous Period of North America. ...

Discoveries and species

Triceratops skull, showing horns and frill (neck armour?), Oxford University Museum of Natural History

The first named specimen now attributed to Triceratops is a pair of brow horns attached to a skull roof, found near Denver, Colorado in the spring of 1887.^[24] This specimen was sent to Othniel Charles Marsh, who believed that the formation from which it came dated from the Pliocene, and that the bones belonged to a particularly large and unusual bison, which he named Bison alticornis.^[25][24] He realized that there were horned dinosaurs by the next year, which saw his publication of the genus Ceratops from fragmentary remains,^[26] but he still believed B. alticornis to be a Pliocene mammal. It took a third and much more complete skull to change his mind. The specimen, collected in 1888 by John Bell Hatcher from the Lance Formation of Wyoming, was initially described as another species of Ceratops,^[27] but after reflection Marsh changed his mind and gave it the generic name Triceratops, accepting his Bison alticornis as another species of Ceratops^[28] (it would later be added to Triceratops^[12]). 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 remains have subsequently been found in the American states of Montana and South Dakota (in addition to Colorado and Wyoming), and in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1200x1245, 1158 KB) Other versions Originally from en. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1200x1245, 1158 KB) Other versions Originally from en. ... Armour in animals is external or superficial protection against attack by predators, formed as part of the body (rather than the behavioural use of protective external objects), usually through the hardening of body tissues, outgrowths or secretions. ... The Oxford University Museum of Natural History, sometimes known simply as the Oxford University Museum, is a museum displaying many of the University of Oxfords natural history specimens. ... Nickname: Location of Denver in Colorado Location of Colorado in the United States Coordinates: , Country United States State Colorado City-County Denver (coextensive) Founded [1] November 22, 1858 Incorporated November 7, 1861 Government  - Type Strong Mayor/Weak Council  - Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) Area [1]  - City & County  154. ... Othniel Charles Marsh (1831-1899) Othniel Charles Marsh (October 29, 1831 - March 18, 1899) was one of the pre-eminent paleontologists of the 19th century, who discovered and named many fossils found in the American West. ... A geologic formation is a formally named rock stratum or geological unit. ... The Pliocene epoch (spelled Pleiocene in some older texts) is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5. ... Species †B. antiquus B. bison B. bonasus †B. latifrons †B. occidentalis †B. priscus Bison is a taxonomic group containing six species of large even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. ... Ceratops (horn face) was a ceratopsian dinosaur from Late Cretaceous Montana and Colorado. ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including those that produce milk, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex... John Bell Hatcher (October 11, 1861 – July 3, 1904) was an American paleontologist most famous for discovering the triceratops. ... The Lance Formation is a division of Late Cretaceous rocks in the western United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area  Ranked 10th  - Total 97,818 sq mi (253,348 km²)  - Width 280 miles (450 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 0. ... For other uses, see Fossil (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English Capital Helena Largest city Billings Area  Ranked 4th  - Total 147,165 sq mi (381,156 km²)  - Width 255 miles (410 km)  - Length 630 miles (1,015 km)  - % water 1  - Latitude 44°26N to 49°N  - Longitude 104°2W to 116°2W Population  Ranked... Official language(s) English Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls Area  Ranked 17th  - Total 77,163 sq mi (199,905 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 380 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... Motto: Multis E Gentibus Vires (Latin: The Strength of Many Peoples) Capital Regina Largest city Saskatoon Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Gordon Barnhart - Premier Lorne Calvert (NDP) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 14 - Senate seats 6 Confederation September 1, 1905 (Split from NWT) (9th (province)) Area  Ranked... Motto: Fortis et liber(Latin) Strong and free Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Official languages English (see below) Government - Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong - Premier Ed Stelmach (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 28 - Senate seats 6 Confederation September 1, 1905 (split from Northwest Territories) (8th [Province]) Area Ranked...

Number of species

Within the first decades after Triceratops was described, various skulls were collected, which varied to a lesser or greater degree from the original Triceratops, named T. horridus by Marsh (from the Latin horridus; "rough, rugose", suggesting the roughened texture of those bones belonging to the type specimen, later identified as an aged individual). This variation is unsurprising, given that Triceratops skulls are large three-dimensional objects, coming from individuals of different ages and both sexes, and which were subjected to different amounts and directions of pressure during fossilization.^[4] Discoverers would name these as separate species (listed below), and came up with several phylogenetic schemes for how they were related to each other. For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... In biology, phylogenetics (Greek: phylon = tribe, race and genetikos = relative to birth, from genesis = birth) is the study of evolutionary relatedness among various groups of organisms (e. ...

In the first attempt to understand the many species, Lull found two groups, although he did not say how he distinguished them: one composed of T. horridus, T. prorsus, and T. brevicornus; the other of T. elatus and T. calicornis. Two species (T. serratus and T. flabellatus) stood apart from these groups.^[12] By 1933, and his revision of the landmark 1907 Hatcher-Marsh-Lull monograph of all known ceratopsians, he retained his two groups and two unaffiliated species, with a third lineage of T. obtusus and T. hatcheri that was characterized by a very small nasal horn.^[14] T. horridus-T. prorsus-T. brevicornus was now thought to be the most conservative lineage, with an increase in skull size and a decrease in nasal horn size, and T.-elatus-T. calicornis was defined by large brow horns and small nasal horn.^[14] C. M. Sternberg made one modification, adding T. eurycephalus and suggesting that it linked the second and third lineages closer together than they were to the T. horridus lineage.^[15] This pattern was followed until the major studies of the 1980s and 1990s. A monograph is a scholarly book or a treatise on a single subject or a group of related subjects. ...

With time, however, the idea that the differing skulls might be representative of individual variation within one (or two) species gained popularity. In 1986, Ostrom and Wellnhofer published a paper in which they proposed that there was only one species, Triceratops horridus.^[29] Part of their rationale was that generally there are only one or two species of any large animal in a region (modern examples being the elephant and the giraffe in modern Africa). To their findings, Lehman added the old Lull-Sternberg lineages combined with maturity and sexual dimorphism, suggesting that the T. horridus-T. prorsus-T. brevicornus lineage was composed of females, the T.calicornis-T.elatus lineage was made up of males, and the T. obtusus-T. hatcheri lineage was of pathologic old males.^[18] His reasoning was that males had taller, more erect horns and larger skulls, and females had smaller skulls with shorter, forward-facing horns. Distribution of Loxodonta africana (2007) Species Loxodonta adaurora (extinct) Loxodonta africana Loxodonta cyclotis African elephants are the two species of elephants in the genus Loxodonta, one of the two existing genera in Elephantidae. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Range map The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species. ... Female (left) and male Common Pheasant, illustrating the dramatic difference in both color and size, between the sexes Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different sex in the same species. ... A renal cell carcinoma (chromophobe type) viewed on a hematoxylin & eosin stained slide Pathologist redirects here. ...

Animatronic juvenile Triceratops, Experimentarium, Copenhagen.

These findings, however, were contested a few years later by Catherine Forster, who reanalysed Triceratops material more comprehensively and concluded that the remains fell into two species, T. horridus and T. prorsus, although the distinctive skull of T. (now tentatively Diceratops) hatcheri differed enough to warrant a separate genus.^[30] She found that T. horridus and several other species belonged together, and T. prorsus and T. brevicornus stood alone, and since there were many more specimens in the first group, she suggested that this meant the two groups were two species. It is still possible to interpret this reasoning as describing a single species with sexual dimorphism.^[4][31] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 578 pixelsFull resolution (820 × 592 pixel, file size: 81 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to en. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 578 pixelsFull resolution (820 × 592 pixel, file size: 81 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to en. ... Animatronic is the third album from Norweigan black metal band, The Kovenant, and was released in 1999 through Nuclear Blast. ... For other uses, see Copenhagen (disambiguation). ... Species Diceratops ( two-horned face) is a ceratopsid herbivorous dinosaur genus from the Latest Cretaceous period of North America. ...

Valid species

• T. horridus (Marsh, 1889) (originally Ceratops) (type species)
• T. prorsus (Marsh, 1890)

Ceratops (horn face) was a ceratopsian dinosaur from Late Cretaceous Montana and Colorado. ... A type species fixes the name of a genus (or of a taxon in a rank lower than genus). ...

Doubtful species

The following species are considered nomina dubia ("dubious names"), and are based on remains that are too poor or incomplete to be distinguished from pre-existing Triceratops species. In scientific classification, a nomen dubium (Latin for doubtful name, plural nomina dubia) is a scientific name that is valid but of unknown or doubtful application: that is, it may be impossible to determine whether a specimen belongs to that group or not. ...

• T. albertensis (C. M. Sternberg, 1949)
• T. alticornis (Marsh, 1887 (originally Bison))
• T. eurycephalus (Schlaikjer, 1935)
• T. galeus (Marsh, 1889)
• T. ingens (Lull, 1915)
• T. maximus (Brown, 1933)
• T. sulcatus (Marsh, 1890)

Charles Mortram Sternberg (1885 – 1981) was an American fossil collector and paleontologist, son of Charles Hazelius Sternberg. ... Othniel Charles Marsh (1831-1899) Othniel Charles Marsh (October 29, 1831 - March 18, 1899) was one of the pre-eminent paleontologists of the 19th century, who discovered and named many fossils found in the American West. ... Species †B. antiquus B. bison B. bonasus †B. latifrons †B. occidentalis †B. priscus Bison is a taxonomic group containing six species of large even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. ... Erich Maren Schlaikjer (born November 22, 1905 in Newtown, Ohio, died November 5, 1972) was an American geologist and dinosaur hunter. ... R.S. Lull was an American paleontologist from the early 20th century, who is largely remembered now for championing a Pre-Neo-Darwinian Synthesis view of evolution, whereby mutation(s) could unlock mysterious genetic drives that, over time, would lead populations to increasingly extreme phenotypes (and perhaps, ultimately, to extinction). ... Barnum Brown (1873-1963) was perhaps the most famous fossil hunter of the early Twentieth Century. ...

Misassignments

• T. brevicornus (Hatcher, 1905) (=T. prorsus)
• T. calicornus (Marsh, 1898) (=T. horridus)
• T. elatus (Marsh, 1891) (=T. horridus)
• T. flabellatus (Marsh, 1889) (=T. horridus)
• T. hatcheri (Lull, 1907) (=Diceratops hatcheri)
• T. mortuarius (Cope, 1874) (nomen dubium; originally Polyonax; =Polyonax mortuarius)
• T. obtusus (Marsh, 1898) (=T. horridus)
• T. serratus (Marsh, 1890) (=T. horridus)
• T. sylvestris (Cope, 1872) (nomen dubium; originally Agathaumas sylvestris)

Edward Drinker Cope Edward Drinker Cope (July 28, 1840–April 12, 1897) was an American paleontologist and comparative anatomist, as well as a noted herpetologist and ichthyologist. ... Species See text. ... Species Agathaumas (great wonder) was a ceratopsid resembling Triceratops. ...

Paleobiology

Although Triceratops are commonly portrayed as herding animals, there is currently no solid evidence that they lived in herds. Unlike other horned dinosaurs, some of which are known from sites preserving dozens or hundreds of individuals, all Triceratops finds known at present preserve only solitary individuals.^[4] However, these remains are very common; for example, Bruce Erickson, a paleontologist of the Science Museum of Minnesota, has reported having seen 200 specimens of T. prorsus in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana.^[32] Similarly, Barnum Brown claimed to have seen over 500 skulls in the field.^[33] Because Triceratops teeth, horn fragments, frill fragments, and other skull fragments are such abundant fossils in the Lancian faunal stage of the late Maastrichtian (late Cretaceous, 68 to 65 mya) Period of western North America, it is regarded as among the dominant herbivores of the time, if not the most dominant herbivore; in 1986, Robert Bakker estimated it as making up 5/6ths of the large dinosaur fauna at the end of the Cretaceous.^[34] A herd of Wildebeest A gaggle of Canada geese For other uses, see Herd (disambiguation). ... Bruce R. Erickson is an American paleontologist and Chair of Paleontology at the Science Museum of Minnesota. ... The Science Museum of Minnesota is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization governed by a board of trustees, staffed by over 500 employees and over 1,600 volunteers located in the states capital city of Saint Paul which focuses on topics in technology and natural history. ... The Hell Creek Formation is the division of Upper Cretaceous rocks in North America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Helena Largest city Billings Area  Ranked 4th  - Total 147,165 sq mi (381,156 km²)  - Width 255 miles (410 km)  - Length 630 miles (1,015 km)  - % water 1  - Latitude 44°26N to 49°N  - Longitude 104°2W to 116°2W Population  Ranked... Barnum Brown (1873-1963) was perhaps the most famous fossil hunter of the early Twentieth Century. ... The Lance Formation is a division of Late Cretaceous rocks in the western United States. ... The Maastrichtian is the last stage of the Cretaceous period, and therefore of the Mesozoic era. ... Geography of the US in the Late Cretaceous Period Late Cretaceous (100mya - 65mya) refers to the second half of the Cretaceous Period, named after the famous white chalk cliffs of southern England, which date from this time. ... Robert T. Bakker (Bob Bakker), born in Bergen, New Jersey, 1945, is a famous American paleontologist who has helped re-shape modern theories about dinosaurs, particularly by adding support to the theory that some dinosaurs were homeothermic (warm-blooded). ...

Triceratops was one of the last ceratopsian genera to appear before the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event. The related Diceratops and Torosaurus, and the more distantly related diminutive Leptoceratops, were also present, though their remains have been rarely encountered.^[4] Badlands near Drumheller, Alberta where erosion has exposed the KT boundary. ... Species Diceratops ( two-horned face) is a ceratopsid herbivorous dinosaur genus from the Latest Cretaceous period of North America. ... Binomial name Marsh, 1891 Torosaurus (perforated lizard) was a ceratopsid dinosaur species. ... Leptoceratops was a primitive ceratopsian dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Western North American. ...

Dentition and diet

Triceratops were herbivorous, and because of their low head, their primary food was probably low growth, although they may have been able to knock down taller plants with their horns, beak, and bulk.^[35][9] The jaws were tipped with a deep, narrow beak, believed to have been better at grasping and plucking than biting.^[36] A deer and two fawns feeding on some foliage A herbivore is often defined as any organism that eats only plants[1]. By that definition, many fungi, some bacteria, many animals, about 1% of flowering plants and some protists can be considered herbivores. ... For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ... The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which, in addition to eating, is used for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, probing for food, courtship, and feeding their young. ... Human jaw front view Human jaw left view Human jaw top view The jaw is either of the two opposable structures forming, or near the entrance to, the mouth. ...

Triceratops teeth were arranged in groups called batteries, of 36 to 40 tooth columns, in each side of each jaw with 3 to 5 stacked teeth per column, depending on the size of the animal.^[9] This gives a range of 432 to 800 teeth, of which only a fraction were in use at any given time (tooth replacement was continuous and occurred throughout the life of the animal).^[9] They functioned by shearing in a vertical to near-vertical orientation.^[9] The great size and numerous teeth of Triceratops suggests that they ate large volumes of fibrous plant material,^[9] with some suggesting palms and cycads,^[37][38] and others suggesting ferns, which then grew in prairies.^[39] A humans visible teeth. ... Genera Many; see list of Arecaceae genera Arecaceae or Palmae (also known by the name Palmaceae, which is taxonomically invalid. ... Families Cycadaceae cycas family Stangeriaceae stangeria family Zamiaceae zamia family Leaves and male cone of Cycas revoluta Cycads are an ancient group of seed plants characterized by a large crown of compound leaves and a stout trunk. ... Classes Psilotopsida Equisetopsida Marattiopsida Pteridopsida (Polypodiopsida) this dnt make sense A fern is any one of a group of about 20,000 species of plants classified in the phylum or division Pteridophyta, also known as Filicophyta. ...

Functions of the horns and frill

Triceratops head from the front

Triceratops head from the side

Juvenile and adult skulls — the juvenile skull is about the size of an adult human head

There has been much speculation over the functions of Triceratops' head adornments. The two main theories have revolved around use in combat, or display in courtship, with the latter thought now to be the most likely primary function.^[9] ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1637x1536, 1811 KB) Triceratops skeleton at the Smithsonian museum of Natural History File links The following pages link to this file: Triceratops ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1637x1536, 1811 KB) Triceratops skeleton at the Smithsonian museum of Natural History File links The following pages link to this file: Triceratops ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1890x1480, 1925 KB) Triceratops skeleton at the Smithsonian museum of Natural History File links The following pages link to this file: Triceratops Categories: Triceratops ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1890x1480, 1925 KB) Triceratops skeleton at the Smithsonian museum of Natural History File links The following pages link to this file: Triceratops Categories: Triceratops ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 1383 KB)Casts(?) of fossilized Triceratops skulls, juvenenile and adult, exhibited at the temporary Howard st. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 1383 KB)Casts(?) of fossilized Triceratops skulls, juvenenile and adult, exhibited at the temporary Howard st. ...

Early on, Lull postulated that the frills may have served as anchor points for the jaw muscles to aid chewing by allowing increased size and thus power for the muscles.^[40] This has been put forward by other authors over the years, but later studies do not find evidence of large muscle attachments on the frill bones.^[41]

Triceratops were long thought to have possibly used their horns and frills in combat with predators such as Tyrannosaurus, the idea being discussed first by C. H. Sternberg in 1917 and 70 years later by Robert Bakker.^[42][43] There is evidence that Tyrannosaurus did prey upon them, as a Triceratops pelvis has been found with tyrannosaur toothmarks and subsequent healing, indicating the wound was made while the animal was alive.^[44] Species T. rex (type) Osborn, 1905 Synonyms Manospondylus Cope, 1892 Dynamosaurus Osborn, 1905  ?Nanotyrannus Bakker, Williams & Currie, 1988 Stygivenator Olshevsky, 1995 Dinotyrannus Olshevsky, 1995 Tyrannosaurus (IPA pronunciation or , meaning tyrant lizard) is a genus of theropod dinosaur. ... Charles Hazelius Sternberg ( 1850- 1943) was an American fossil collector and amateur paleontologist. ... The pelvis (pl. ...

In 2005, a BBC documentary, The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs, tested how Triceratops might have defended themselves against large predators like Tyrannosaurus. To see if Triceratops could have charged other dinosaurs, as would a modern-day rhinoceros, an artificial Triceratops skull was made and propelled into simulated Tyrannosaurus skin at 24 km/h (15 mph). The brow horns penetrated the skin, but the blunt nose horn and the beak could not, and the front of the skull broke. The conclusion drawn was that it would have been impossible for Triceratops to have defended themselves in this way—instead they probably stood their ground when attacked by large predators, using their horns for goring if the predator came close enough. For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs is a two-part BBC documentary, presented by Bill Oddie, in which a group of scientists test out the strength of dinosaur weaponry using biomechanics. ... Kilometres per hour (American spelling: kilometers per hour) is a unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector). ... Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ...

In addition to combat with predators using horns, Triceratops are classically shown engaging each other in combat with horns locked. While studies show that such activity would be feasible, if unlike that of present-day horned animals,^[45] there is no evidence that they actually did so. Additionally, although pitting, holes, lesions, and other damage on Triceratops skulls (and the skulls of other ceratopsids) are often attributed to horn damage in combat, a recent study finds no evidence for horn thrust injuries causing these forms of damage (for example, there is no evidence of infection or healing). Instead, non-pathological bone resorption, or unknown bone diseases, are suggested as causes.^[46] Resorption can refer to: Bone resorption Root resorption Category: ...

The large frill also may have helped to increase body area to regulate body temperature.^[47] A similar theory has been proposed regarding the plates of Stegosaurus,^[48] although this use alone would not account for the bizarre and extravagant variation seen in different members of the Ceratopsidae.^[9] This observation is highly suggestive of what is now believed to be the primary function, display. Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when temperature surrounding is very different. ... Species Marsh, 1877 (type) Marsh, 1887 Gilmore, 1914 Stegosaurus (IPA: ) is a genus of stegosaurid armoured dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period (Kimmeridgian to Early Tithonian) in what is now western North America. ... Genera Centrosaurinae    Achelousaurus    Centrosaurus    Einiosaurus    Styracosaurus    Pachyrhinosaurus Ceratopsinae    Chasmosaurus    Diceratops    Pentaceratops    Protoceratops    Torosaurus    Triceratops Ceratopsids, or members of the Ceratopsidae (or Ceratopidae), are a diverse group of marginocephalian dinosaurs like Triceratops and Styracosaurus. ...

The theory of their use in sexual display was first proposed by Davitashvili in 1961 and has gained increasing acceptance since.^[49][41][18] Evidence that visual display was important, either in courtship or in other social behaviour, can be seen in the fact that horned dinosaurs differ markedly in their adornments, making each species highly distinctive. Also, modern living creatures with such displays of horns and adornments use them in similar behaviour.^[50] A recent study of the smallest Triceratops skull, ascertained to be a juvenile, shows the frill and horns developed at a very early age, predating sexual development and thus probably important for visual communication and species recognition in general.^[51] The large eyes and shortened features, a hallmark of "cute" baby mammals, also suggest that the parent Triceratops may have cared for its young.

Depiction in recent popular media

The distinctive appearance of Triceratops has led to them being frequently depicted in films, computer games and documentaries. They appear in the film Jurassic Park, where one is portrayed as sick and is being treated by humans. There is a sequence of a Triceratops-like dinosaur chasing the jungle explorers in Son of Kong, which was hand-animated by Willis O'Brien. They have also been featured in three major dinosaur documentaries: Walking with Dinosaurs, The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Park. Jurassic Park is a 1993 science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. ... The Son of Kong is the sequel to the successful film King Kong. ... Willis OBrien with his Academy Award. ... The factual accuracy of part of this article is disputed. ... The Truth About Killer Dinosaurs is a two-part BBC documentary, presented by Bill Oddie, in which a group of scientists test out the strength of dinosaur weaponry using biomechanics. ... Prehistoric Park is a six part television series in documentary style, from Impossible Pictures Limited, (the makers of Walking with Dinosaurs) which premiered on ITV on 22 July 2006 and on Animal Planet on 29 October 2006. ...

They are famously known as "three-horns" (and are so named in The Land Before Time animated film and its numerous sequels) due to the three prominent horns on their head and nose, which have become almost synonymous with the dinosaurs. The shorthand "Trike" is another common informal name, and is also the name of the Triceratops character in the children's book series and television cartoon series Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs. This article is about the 1988 film. ... The bouncing ball animation (below) consists of these 6 frames. ... “Childrens books” redirects here. ... An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn (or made with computers or type writers to look similar to something hand-drawn) film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot (even if it is a very short one). ... Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs is a series of childrens books written and drawn by Ian Whybrow and Adrian Reynolds. ...

A recurring theme, especially in children's dinosaur books, is a climactic showdown or battle between Triceratops and T. rex.^{[52][53][54][55]} As such these two dinosaurs are often depicted and thought of as natural enemies. A memorable but anachronistic battle with Ceratosaurus substituting for T. rex is featured in the 1966 movie One Million Years B.C. Species (type) Marsh, 1884 (Janensch, 1920) Madsen & Wells, 2000 Madsen & Wells, 2000 Ceratosaurus (IPA: ) meaning horned lizard, in reference to the horn on its nose (Greek keras/keratos meaning horn and sauros meaning lizard), was a large predatory dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Period, found in the Morrison Formation of... One Million Years B.C. is a 1966 (released in the U.S. in 1967) adventure film and fantasy film starring Raquel Welch set - loosely - in the time of cavemen. ...

Triceratops appears in video games either derived directly from the Jurassic Park series or similarly themed, namely the 1997 PC games Jurassic Park: Chaos Island and Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, and the 2000 PC and Playstation game Dino Crisis 2. Triceratops also features in the Zoo Tycoon franchise. As well, it is a popular creature used in games designed by Nintendo, including Diddy Kong Racing and Starfox Adventures. Triceratops (the species are not identified) is also the official state fossil of South Dakota,^[56] and the official state dinosaur of Wyoming.^[57] This article or section contains a plot summary that is too long or excessively detailed. ... Zoo Tycoon boxart The Zoo Tycoon series is a popular video game series that began in 2001. ... Nintendo Company, Limited (任天堂 or ニンテンドー Nintendō; NASDAQ: NTDOY, TYO: 7974 usually referred to as simply Nintendo, or Big N ) is a multinational corporation founded on September 23, 1889[1] in Kyoto, Japan by Fusajiro Yamauchi to produce handmade hanafuda cards. ... Diddy Kong Racing is a racing game for the Nintendo 64 developed by Rareware. ... Star Fox Adventures is a Nintendo GameCube game in the Star Fox series released on September 23, 2002. ... It has been suggested that List of U.S. state dinosaurs be merged into this article or section. ... Official language(s) English Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls Area  Ranked 17th  - Total 77,163 sq mi (199,905 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 380 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area  Ranked 10th  - Total 97,818 sq mi (253,348 km²)  - Width 280 miles (450 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 0. ...

References

Evolution, the International Journal of Organic Evolution, is a bimonthly scientific journal that publishes significant new results of empirical or theoretical investigations concerning facts, processes, mechanics, or concepts of evolutionary phenomena and events. ... Nature is one of the most prominent scientific journals, first published on 4 November 1869. ... Science, the journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), is one of the worlds most prestigious scientific publications. ... Evolution, the International Journal of Organic Evolution, is a bimonthly scientific journal that publishes significant new results of empirical or theoretical investigations concerning facts, processes, mechanics, or concepts of evolutionary phenomena and events. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

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