Triceratops belonged to a group of herbivorous (plant-eating) dinosaurs of the Ornithischian type called the Ceratopsians. (Remember the difference between the Ornithischian or "bird-hipped" dinosaurs and the Saurischian or "lizard-hipped" dinosaurs? Be sure to read my article "Dinosaur Primer.") The Ceratopsians first appeared in the early Cretaceous Period (140 to 65 million years ago) in Asia, and they spread across Europe and into the Americas.
Triceratops was one of the latest of the Ceratopsians to appear, in the late Cretaceous Period in North America. The name "Triceratops" means "three horned face," and was given to Triceratops in 1889 by O. C. Marsh.
Triceratops was the most abundant of the Ceratopsian dinosaurs, and their remains have been found all over the United States and Canada. It was also the larges and heaviest of the Ceratopsians.
What were the horns and the large skull frill of Triceratops used for? Tyrannosaurus rex lived at the same time as Triceratops, and it is very possible that Triceratops (as well as the other Ceratopsian dinosaurs) used its horns to defend itself from T. rex and other predatory dinosaurs. The horns could be used to rip open the belly of an attacking predator, while the large skull frill would have shielded Triceratops's neck from the predator's teeth and claws.
The skull frill could have also been used for display. It would have helped to make Triceratops look larger than it actually was, which could have deterred predators from attacking it. Looking larger could have also been helpful to deter rival Triceratops for territory and mate competition.
I know that Triceratops is one of my favourite dinosaurs, and will always remain so. What is you favourite dinosaur?
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