The Triceratops is another well-known dinosaur and one beloved by kids for its three horns. It is the best-known horned dinosaur, weighing around 9 tons. This dinosaur was one of the last to live on Earth, being a part of the last part of the Cretaceous period. 

This Dinosaur is famously known as being food for the Tyrannosaurus Rex. It was a plant-eater with a large beak as well as many sharp teeth for chewing.

Despite looking a lot like a Rhino, Triceratops were likely much slower than other Dinosaurs and had to rely on their horns for protection. It also had a large frill on top of its head, which acted as a counterbalance to the weight of its protruding head, as well as protection for its neck.

Triceratops Quick Facts (At a glance)

Here is a quick overview of important facts about the Triceratops:

Meaning: Three-Horned Face

Time-Period: Late Cretaceous 68-66 MYA

Group: Ceratopsia

Diet: Herbivore
Size: 30 feet (9 meters) long

Fossil Locations: Canada, USA, 1889

How Was It Discovered?

Triceratops was first discovered in Denver, Colorado, in 1887 by Othniel Charles Marsh. Originally, only a pair of horn cores were discovered. 

They were mistaken for bison horns, but unearthing the rest of the skeleton showed the rest of the dinosaur, which was later named Triceratops. 

Where Did Triceratops Live?

The majority of Triceratops fossils have been found in western North America, just like the T. Rex.

Their fossils have been found in modern-day western North America:

• Montana
• Wyoming
• South Dakota
• North Dakota
• Colorado

66 million years ago, this region was full of warm forests, rivers, and floodplains. This was where large plant-eating dinosaurs like the Triceratops lived. 

What Did Triceratops Eat?

Triceratops were herbivores. Due to a low-hanging head, the Triceratops mainly grazed on low-growing vegetation. 

It is speculated that they may have been able to knock down taller plants to consume as well. The plants they ate were probably highly fibrous plants; these include ferns, palms, conifers, and cycads.

Triceratops Horns and Teeth

A Triceratops’ horns could grow to be 3 feet (1 meter) or longer. The shorter horn near its nose would have been shorter. 

These horns were actually a part of the dinosaur’s skeleton; they had horn cores that had keratin that grew over them.

Their massive skulls, up to 10 feet long (3 meters), had a sharp beak for nipping off plants and smaller teeth for chewing their food. Up to 800 small, sharp teeth are arranged into dental batteries for mashing up plant matter.

How Big Was Triceratops

Lots of people wonder how big Triceratops was, especially since it was preyed on by T. Rex. 

Triceratops were much smaller than the large T. rex, and lower to the ground. Although they are still massive compared to today’s land animals.

Standing up to 30 feet (9 meters) long and 10 feet (3 meters) tall while walking on all fours. These massive dinosaurs could weigh up to 6–9 tons.

Triceratops Family Tree

Triceratops was a part of the Ceratopsian group. This group consists of herbivores that had parrot-like beaks, a bony frill, and usually had horns. 

Other Ceratopsians include:

• Albertaceratops
• Protoceratops
• Styracosaurus
• Pachyrhinosaurus

Triceratops was a part of the Ornithischia dinosaurs, which are known as bird-hipped dinosaurs. 

While these Dinosaurs had bird-hips, modern-day birds actually came from theropod Dinosaurs rather than Ornithischia. The Ornithischia group actually went extinct when most dinosaurs went extinct. 

Fun Facts For Kids

• Most-Found Fossil: The Triceratops is the most-found fossil, and is one of the most documented. 
• Triceratops living in herds: Believe it or not, Triceratops actually didn’t live in herds once they matured, and instead lived individually, spending their lives in solitude except to mate.
• Juvenile Herds: It is speculated that some Juvenile Triceratops would live together in small groups until they mature. This is due to a small group of 3 juvenile fossils found together.
• Triceratops’ Frill: Not only did the frill protect their neck, but it is also speculated that it was a way to attract mates and determine members of the same species for mating. 
• First Discovery: The Triceratops was originally discovered by Othniel Charles Marsh, an American Scientist who found a pair of horn cores belonging to Triceratops. 

Famous Triceratops Skeletons

Big John

Big John is a fossilized Triceratops Horridus skeleton. This is a famous skeleton because it is both the largest known Triceratops skeleton and it was the most expensive at auction.

The skeleton is named after the owner of the ranch on the land where the fossil was found and excavated. 

The skeleton is also about 5-10% bigger than that of other Triceratops, with both its horns being even longer than 3 feet. He is also estimated to be around 60% complete, which is very high for fossils. 

Interested in seeing Big John? He’s on display at Glazer’s Children’s Museum in Florida.

Raymond

A nearly complete articulated skeleton of a Triceratops was found in 1994, where the entire right side of the dinosaur was preserved. Since the two sides of the Triceratops were mirror images, Raymond actually gave paleontologists a basically complete image of a Triceratops. 

Raymond is quite special because it is the only articulated skeleton of a Triceratops discovered so far. 

This fossil has been put on display in Tokyo, Japan, at the National Science Museum.

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