Triceratops Facts For Kids
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Triceratops, one of the most famous and well-known dinosaurs, lived around 68-66 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous Period. This herbivorous dinosaur was one of the last dinosaurs to exist before the mass extinction event that wiped out all non-avian dinosaurs.
Here are some amazing and interesting Triceratops facts for kids:
1. Name and Meaning
Triceratops means “three-horned face” in Greek. This name is derived from the three horns on the dinosaur’s face.
2. Size and Weight
Triceratops was a big dinosaur, measuring up to 29 feet long, 10 feet tall, and weighing up to 6-12 tons. That’s about as heavy as two adult elephants!
3. Horns and Frill
Triceratops had a large bony frill along its neck and two long brow horns above its eyes. These horns could be up to 3 feet long in some individuals. The third horn was a shorter one on the dinosaur’s nose.
4. Herbivorous Diet
Triceratops was a herbivore, which means it only ate plants. Paleontologists believe that they probably ate a variety of tough plants, such as ferns, cycads, and conifers.
5. Social Animals
Triceratops lived in herds or groups, according to many paleontologists. These groups may have been made up of both adults and juveniles.
6. Fossils Found in North America
Fossils of Triceratops have been found in North America in the western United States, mainly in Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. They lived in the ancient environment of the Western Interior Seaway.
7. Did not Exist with T-Rex
Even though Triceratops is often depicted fighting with other dinosaurs, such as Tyrannosaurus rex, these two dinosaurs did not coexist in the same geological time period. T-Rex lived about 8 million years after Triceratops went extinct.
In conclusion, Triceratops was a massive and fascinating dinosaur that roamed the Earth millions of years ago. With their distinctive horns and frill, they have captured the imagination of millions of people. Although extinct, we can learn much about these dinosaurs through the fossils that they left behind.