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WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Triceratops means "three-horned face". This
distinctive feature was used for both attack, defence and decoration.
SMILE!
Like other herbivores, Triceratops had a sharp
toothless beak at the front of its mouth. This would be used for breaking twigs
and leaves.
NUTS AND BOLTS
Fossil evidence indicates that the Triceratops was
very powerful, with very strong muscles throughout its body. Its skeleton
structure, was also very solid and compact giving the impression of a tough,
sturdy yet very agile dinosaur.
OUT AND ABOUT
Triceratops was one of the most common dinosaurs.
Huge herds would roam the river banks for lush vegetation. Unfortunately
predators could easily spot these huge packs of Triceratops, most notably
Tyrannosaurus rex which lived at the same time.
FROM HEAD...The huge head of the Triceratops
accounted for a third of its overall length. The crested frill was used to
protect the dinosaurs neck. Many different types of head crests have been found,
and scientists believe that it may well have been brightly coloured, to enable
different Triceratops to distinguish each other.
...TO TAIL
The tail of the Triceratops would drag along the
ground. Scientists know this because of the trails found within its fossilised
footprints.
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