How to Identify a Triceratops

No one has ever found a complete skeleton of a Triceratopsas. They were exclusive to North America, and the last of the dinosaurs to die out. It is believed that one of their most dangerous enemies was the legendary Tyrannosaurus Rex and it is often illustrated in fierce combat with this vicious carnivore.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Begin by looking at the amazing head of the triceratops. It is quite distinct from other dinosaurs, characterized by the long, narrow beak-like snout and three horns. One short horn grew above the snout over the nostrils, and it boasted one horn above each eye, each approximately 3 feet long. Its head was known to have reached up to 10 feet in length, with a strong, bony frill surrounding it.

2. Note the beak of the triceratops. There were no teeth in front, but in the rear it had extremely sharp teeth, which crossed each other in a scissor-like fashion. The teeth were rooted vertically and horizontally attached to each other. This creature was an herbivore, eating low-growth plants, and the triangular skull is thought to have been strong enough to knock over trees to get at the foliage.

3. Take in the dense, heavy body of the triceratops. It weighed approximately 14,000 pounds and stood 10 feet tall, measuring up to 30 feet in length. It had good muscle coordination, but was very slow. When walking, its top speed was probably 5 miles an hour it could run, although not very quickly.

4. Examine the legs and feet of this magnificent beast. The thick, heavy hind legs were longer than the front legs and possessed great power. The front legs are cause for some contention among paleontologists, with some arguing for a low, widespread stance and others claiming the legs were kept close together with knees bowed outwardly. The front feet had five hooves while the back feet had four.

5. Take just a moment to study the tail of the triceratops. It doesn't seem to have been used for much except to help him balance, and most likely it was held above the ground to achieve this end. There is some debate over whether the tail was used in defense, rather like a whip, but there is no proof of this.

6. Consider the nature of these creatures. For many years, these dinosaurs were believed to use their horns to defend themselves from predators, which is quite likely. But fossil evidence has shown that they also fought each other, probably for claiming territory and mating rights. They are also believed to have been herd animals, adding to their ability to defend themselves.