Triceratops was a numerous and well-known herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period, living alongside Tyrannosaurus Rex in what is now North America. When encountering Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops would fight using its strong, robust physique and sharp triangles. Let's look at some of Triceratops's most notable characteristics and the latest research findings.
Triceratops proudly possessed three horns: two on its head and a third on its nose, serving as a sharp spear for protection. Where there's a spear, there must be a shield, and Triceratops perfectly combined both. The back of its skull extended into a massive neck shield, acting as a protective barrier. Notably, Triceratops' neck shield was solid, unlike some other ceratopsians, such as Ceratosaurus, whose neck shield was hollow, clearly less robust. Another characteristic of Triceratops' neck shield was its vibrant colors, likely serving as camouflage in a near-modern environment or as a peacock-like courtship tool. This combination of spear and shield made Triceratops a complete offensive and defensive machine, but it also resulted in an enormous head, estimated to weigh nearly 315 kilograms.
Another important feature of Triceratops is its specialized chewing structure. A close examination of Triceratops' mouth reveals that its snout had evolved into a laterally constricted mouth, with the lower jaw suspended below the upper jaw. This jaw structure allowed for efficient cutting of tough plant stems.
The relationship between Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex is somewhat similar to that between lions and buffalo herds in Africa today, a hypothesis inferred from the biodiversity pyramid and the proportion of extant herbivores and carnivores. When a buffalo herd is attacked by lions, they will encircle the old, weak, and sick in the center, then form a tight circle with their heads facing outwards, creating an impenetrable wall. We can extrapolate this to the encounter between Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex, though this is merely speculation. In reality, even a Tyrannosaurus Rex attacking a stray Triceratops would be no easy feat. When attacked, a Triceratops would be forced to retaliate, lowering its head and revealing its spear-like horns. With its weight of 6 to 12 tons and a high speed of 35 kilometers per hour, it would be an attack that a Tyrannosaurus Rex could not withstand.
Chinese name: Triceratops
Latin name: Triceratops
Age of existence: Late Cretaceous
Fossil origin: Americas
Physical characteristics: 9 meters long
Diet: Plants
Species: Ceratopsians
Meaning: A face with three horns
