11" Sandstone With Triceratops Jugal, Tendon & Bone - Wyoming

About Triceratops

Triceratops was one of the most iconic North American dinosaurs, living during the Late Cretaceous around 68–66 million years ago. With its enormous frilled skull and three horns, it was an impressive sight and may have used its headgear for display as much as for defense against predators like Tyrannosaurus rex. Adults could grow up to 9 meters (29.5 feet) long, stand about 3 meters (9.8 feet) tall, and weigh as much as 26,000 pounds. Its sturdy build and powerful horns made it a formidable herbivore capable of standing its ground against large predators.



Triceratops had highly specialized teeth arranged in groups called dental batteries, with dozens of tooth columns lining each side of its jaws. Each column contained several stacked teeth that were constantly replaced, giving it hundreds of teeth over its lifetime. This unique system allowed Triceratops to efficiently chew tough, fibrous plants such as ferns, cycads, and palms. Triceratops was designated as the state fossil of South Dakota in 1988.

Hadrosaurs are frequently referred to as duck-billed dinosaurs and are members of the Ornithischian family Hadrosauridae. They were fairly common herbivores that roamed Asia, Europe, and North America during the Upper Cretaceous Period. Many species of Hadrosaurs had distinctive crests on their heads, some of which had air-filled chambers that may have produced a distinct sound. These crests may have been used for both audio and visual display purposes.