Triceratops Research Paper

Improved Essays
The triceratops was a large, four-legged, plant-eating ceratopsian dinosaur that had a frill of bone at the back of its skull and three distinguished horns on its face. …

Triceratops were the most common kind in western North America and Canada. These dinosaurs were one of the last dinosaurs to roam the Western Interior. They lived in the late Cretaceous period, around 145.5 - 65.5 million years ago. Fossils of this species are most commonly recovered in the uppermost Cretaceous deposits of western North America. The first specimen, found in 1887, was mistaken for an extinct species of bison. On further inspection, they realized it was a dinosaur. It was officially named “triceratops” by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1889.

On average, adult triceratops could grow up to 30 feet long, 10 feet wide, and could weigh up to 6 tons. Its pubis bone pointed backward to support the large stomachs for vegetation. Triceratops walked with their four legs positioned under them, rather than the sides. The beak and closely packed grinding teeth on this herbivorous dinosaur helped it to chew the vegetation, like shrubs, trees, and cycads. The beak crunched on tough parts of vegetation, while the teeth grinded up the pieces.
…show more content…
The nose horn is short and thick, and the 2 long brow horns are curved and can grow more than 3 feet in length. In juvenile triceratops, all three horns were stubby, and they didn’t point forward until they fully matured. The triceratops’ large frill is made of solid bone, and are 3 feet wide. The frill regulates body temperature, attracts mates, and sometimes protects its neck from

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    A hundred million years ago a dark green, feeble Lexovisaurus emerged from a shiny, white egg. This Lexovisaurus’ name was Jacob, Jacob started walking towards a wet, lively fern plant. Jacob was obviously hungry after spending weeks in an egg so he immediately started eating. His small brothers came to eat the same fern plant because they were all born in the same nest. Lexovisaurus looked a lot like Stegosaurus but Lexovisaurus had more spikes.…

    • 1054 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    A Galapagos Tortoise can get to 3.2 to 4 feet tall. Galapagos Tortoise’s are quiet and lazy animals. They have a top speed of 1 mile per hour. The scaley skin protects the Tortoise from predators.…

    • 130 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The rotting away of different types of life forms is important in the cycle of life. Soft tissue can be broken down with no evidence that it ever existed at all. How crazy is that something that is alive for at least ten years, will leave this Earth without leaving a trace behind. I think that that is insane. How is there no memory of a life form?…

    • 448 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Arvinachelys Golden

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Since Earth was somewhat wet and hot and full of rivers back then, it was suitable for the turtles. Scientists believe that this well extinct turtle possibly lived with dinosaurs such as tyrannosaurs, armored ankylosaurus, and giant duck-billed dinosaurs. After the discovery, Jerry Golden, a volunteer fossil preparator at the Natural History Museum of Utah, is now preparing to physically reproduce the specimen. Sometimes, fossils are our key to the past. Similar to the discovery of this turtle, scientists were able to…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sloths Research Paper

    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages

    One really cool trait is that they have three extra cervical vertebrae which allow them to turn their head…

    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    They named the T-Rex Sue. Fossils are what is left over of deceased organisms. Fossils happen onces a organism decays after dying. There are three types of fossils, Impression, Trace, and Replacement. “Sue” is remarkable because it was the first T-Rex to be discovered that had features similar to humans.…

    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    New species of these dinosaurs had become more important. The most famous dinosaur of all, the Tyrannosaurus rex, finally came along during the end of the Mesozoic Era. It walked on two legs so it is a theropod. All theropods were carnivorous. Sea animals and life in the sea was very like how it was in the Jurassic period.…

    • 911 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The creature that is being examined in this experiment is the now extinct Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, a dinosaur that lived in Northwestern Africa about 95 million years ago. The Spinosaurus (fig.1) was a creature that has been estimated to be anywhere from 13 to 18 meters (43 to 60) long, weighed 7 to 9 tonnes (8-10 tons), and is agreed to be by most paleontologists the largest carnivorous dinosaur of all time. It is thought to be a piscivore, although the Spinosaurus’ diet and lifestyle is very controversial. It was named in 1915 by the German paleontologist Ernst Stromer. It lived in North Africa, from the Bahariya Formation in Egypt to the Kem Kem Formation in Morocco.…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    What Is T-Rex?

    • 183 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Tyrannosaurus rex ("sue") lived during the late cretaceous period about 65 million years ago, toward the end of the Mezozoic era. T-Rex lived in a humid, semi-tropical environment, in open forests with nearby rivers and in coastal forest swamps. T-rex was about 40 feet long and about 15 to 20 feet tall. It had tiny arms about 3 feet. It was bipedal, it walked on two muscular legs.…

    • 183 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Catfish and largemouth bass are extremely different species of aquatic fish, but their ultimate natural instinct is the same. They strive to survive and produce offspring to carry on the essence of life, as all species do. Catfish are a very docile creature by nature, and their habitat ranges from lakes and rivers to creeks and little streams. They do not always need a fresh and constant supply of flowing water, but it makes for a more productive lifestyle.…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    They constructed the exhibit so you get the feeling you are entering the tomb of King Tut for the first time, the same way the original archaeologists did. Without doubt, the most popular part of the museum is at the far end of the building where they have their dinosaurs. Although there are few bones to look at, there are dinosaurs created to appear the way paleontologists believe they looked like. In the center of the room are two dinosaurs: A Tyrannosaurus Rex and a Triceratops. They appear to be fighting, and are designed to both move and make sounds.…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    T-Rex which is short for Tyrannosaurus Rex, was known as a prehistoric carnivore which was also known to be king of the dinosaurs. The Tyrannosaurus Rex was king of the dinosaurs mostly through their physical appearance which led them to have multiple abilities. The T-Rex had strong thighs, powerful tails, and it’s large head which balanced the body out. This appearance helped the dinosaur become more agile and able to move more swiftly/ smoothly. Not only was the dinosaur agile but was a forceful animal filled with powerful strength through their muscles and distribution of mass.…

    • 769 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Each dinosaur was monitored and tallied by a variety of computerized methods. Motion sensors cover ninety-two percent of the park and video surveillance equipment keeps constant visual tabs on the animals. These dinosaurs weren't real. One thing they could do to fix it would have to be to make sure that they wouldn't reproduce. They have the power to make these dinosaurs so they have a way to make them not…

    • 466 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    On a sunny day in New York a new dinosaur museum opened featuring the newly discovered spinosaurus fossil. The fossil stood nearly 12 metres tall and 20 metres long the biggest yet. Every citizen of New York would visits the museum. In celebration to this a new movie Triassic park was made.…

    • 1376 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Sauropods

    • 702 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The downside of having a huge body is that the Dinosaur must 've had a rapid growth. Rapid growth mean that the dinosaurs generate a lot of body heat. Their long neck and tail give the dinosaur more body surface…

    • 702 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays