Article: Triceratops: The Three-Horned Titan of the Late Cretaceous
Triceratops: The Three-Horned Titan of the Late Cretaceous
When people picture a horned dinosaur, one name usually comes to mind — Triceratops. With its massive frill, fearsome horns, and tank-like body, this prehistoric powerhouse was one of the last (and most iconic) dinosaurs to roam North America.
(Image credit: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)
Where and When Did Triceratops Live?
Triceratops lived around 68 to 66 million years ago, right at the tail end of the Late Cretaceous period — just before the mass extinction that wiped out most of the dinosaurs.
Their fossils are most commonly found in the Lance Formation, which spans parts of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. During their time, the area was characterized by a mix of dry, forested areas and plains with abundant vegetation like ferns, cycads, and palm. If you’re digging in those areas and spot a chunky frill sticking out of the sediment, you might be onto something big.
Photo above: A bird's eye view of the coulees where we look for dinosaur fossils in Montana.
What Did Triceratops Eat (and How Did It Eat It)?
Triceratops was an herbivore, and a serious one at that. It likely munched on ferns, palms, cycads, and other prehistoric plants, using its beak-like mouth to shear off leaves and stems. Triceratops had as many as 800 teeth, which were constantly replaced throughout its life. These teeth were organized into structures called dental batteries — with 36 to 40 vertical columns on each side of the upper and lower jaws, and 3 to 5 stacked teeth in each column.
They likely needed to drink water daily, much like modern elephants, but fossilized evidence of drinking behavior is — understandably — a bit rare.
(Image credit: iStock/Getty Images)
How Did Triceratops Survive?
Their main defense? Three horns and a massive frill.
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The two large brow horns could reach over three feet long and were probably used for fending off predators like Tyrannosaurus rex, or for fighting among themselves for mates or territory.
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The bony frill might’ve served as protection, but it could have also been a display feature — think of it like a dinosaur billboard for intimidation or attraction.
Triceratops also had a low center of gravity, strong limbs, and an overall stocky build that made it hard to knock over — basically, a walking tank with horns.
Photo above: A triceratops lower jaw from the same animal as the one in the field jacket below.
Photo above: A lower triceratops beak that was found in the Lance Formation of Wyoming.
Why Did Triceratops Go Extinct?
Triceratops didn’t go out alone — they disappeared during the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction event, about 66 million years ago, likely triggered by an asteroid impact near modern-day Mexico which is supported by evidence such as the Chicxulub crater near the Yucatán Peninsula and the widespread presence of iridium, an element rare on Earth but common in asteroids, at the K-Pg boundary.
The impact would have generated an immense explosion, sending tsunamis, earthquakes, and massive amounts of debris into the atmosphere. Ash and debris from the impact would have blocked sunlight, disrupted the climate causing a prolonged "impact winter" that would cool the planet and stopped photosynthesis, and caused widespread plant death. For a huge herbivore like Triceratops, no plants = no food = extinction.
Image Credit: Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin. “Dino-Killing Asteroid Made Rocks Behave Like Liquid and Could Have Provided Habitat for New Life.”
Where Are Triceratops Fossils Found?
Most are discovered in the Hell Creek Formation, but fragments have also been found in parts of Canada. Common finds include:
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Teeth (they shed them constantly)
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Horn cores
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Skull frill pieces
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Vertebrae and limb bones
Because of their size, intact skulls and full skeletons are incredibly rare — but even a tooth or horn fragment is a prized find.
Photo above: A triceratops skull still in the field jacket.
Photo above: Collecting in the coulees of Montana for dinosaur fossils.
Want a Piece of Prehistoric History?
If you’re as fascinated by Triceratops as we are, check out the Triceratops fossils available on our site — from teeth to frill pieces and everything in between. Every piece comes with real history, dug up and preserved with care.
Explore Triceratops Fossils
Sources & Further Reading
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Live Science – Triceratops: Facts About the Three-Horned Dinosaur
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HowStuffWorks – Triceratops
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Kiddle – Triceratops for Kids
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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History – Dino Directory
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The Dinosauria (2nd Edition) – David B. Weishampel, Peter Dodson, and Halszka Osmólska
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The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs – Gregory S. Paul
