3" Triceratops Fossil Frill Skull Bone Lance Creek FM Cretaceous Dinosaur WY COA
Location: Lance Creek Formation, Wyoming (Private Land Origin)
Weight: 5.5 Ounces
Dimensions: 3 Inches Long, 2 Inches Wide, 1.5 Inches Thick
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Late Cretaceous, 83.5 - 66 million years old.
Name: Triceratops
Type: Herbivore
Size: 8 to 9 meters long.
Triceratops is a genus of large, herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaurs that first appeared during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 68 million years ago. This massive quadrupedal dinosaur inhabited the plains of North America and weighed between 5 and 9 metric tons, making it one of the largest and most recognizable members of the ceratopsian family. Triceratops is instantly identifiable by its three prominent facial horns and an expansive bony frill at the back of its skull. The two long horns above its eyes were its primary defensive weapons, while the smaller nasal horn projected from the snout. In addition to these main horns, the frill was often bordered with smaller spikes, offering extra protection from predators and a distinctive display feature.
Triceratops had a large skull relative to its body, with a short, thick neck frill that rose from the back of the skull. Its sturdy, quadrupedal body supported its enormous head, allowing it to graze efficiently on low-lying vegetation. The horns and frill were likely used not only for defense but also for intraspecific combat and social signaling, helping establish dominance within herds. Triceratops shared its ecosystem with apex predators such as Tyrannosaurus rex, which may have hunted them despite their formidable defensive adaptations.
Fossil evidence of Triceratops is abundant across Late Cretaceous formations in North America, making it one of the best-understood ceratopsid dinosaurs. Its combination of size, horns, and frill made it a highly effective herbivore, capable of deterring predators while thriving in diverse environments. Triceratops’ iconic appearance, including its massive skull and distinctive horn configuration, continues to make it one of the most recognizable and celebrated ceratopsian dinosaurs among paleontologists, fossil collectors, and dinosaur enthusiasts worldwide.
As a symbol of Late Cretaceous herbivores, Triceratops exemplifies the evolutionary adaptations of ceratopsid dinosaurs, showcasing both defense and social behavior. Its fossils, horns, and frill provide critical insights into dinosaur anatomy, behavior, and ecology, cementing its status as one of the most fascinating and studied dinosaurs of its era.
