Juvenile Triceratops Skull ‘Maple’
Juvenile Triceratops Skull ‘Maple’
USA
Fossilised Bone
Late Cretaceous Period, C. 68 Million Years Ago
H: 230cm (Stand Included) W:119 cm L:181 cm
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A skull of a juvenile Triceratops prorsus from the Maastrichtian, late Cretaceous period (68-65 million years ago).
The triceratops roamed the plains of what is now North America around 68-66 million years ago. It was the most numerous of the horned cretaceous dinosaurs as well as the largest ceratopsian, and one of the last to become extinct approximately 66 million years ago.
One of the most famous species of dinosaur, its flaring bony frill, pointed beak and three-horned head make the triceratops instantly recognisable. Today two species of triceratops are accepted: the earlier T. horridus, which is characterised by a smaller nose horn and long beak, and the later T. prorsus, with its longer nose horn and shorter beak. Adult triceratops weighed around 7 to 12 tonnes, roughly the equivalent of 7 small cars, and larger than a full-grown African elephant.
A herbivore, the triceratops grazed on the plentiful low-lying plants of its lush habitat. Its head was up to one-third the length of its body and is the largest known skull of any land animal. Its menacing horns were largely for protection, as triceratops lived contemporaneously with the Tyrannosaurus rex and, as the largest herbivore, most likely made up the majority of its prey. The flaring frill was ostensibly also for protection although studies have shown it may have originally been brightly coloured, suggesting possible functions ranging from mating rituals, identification purposes, and even regulating body temperature. Many skulls found have been damaged in what appear to be predator attacks, and examples have even been found with tyrannosaur tooth marks and new growth after breakage.
Discovered on private land owned by Hot Bar Land & Cattle Co. near Glendive, Dawson County, Montana, USA, GPS Coordinates N 47.01.034, W 104.30.212 (Section 33, Township 15 N, Range 57 E, elevation 2501 ft.), on 1 September 2019.
Excavated and collected in 2020.
Sold by Hot Bar Land and Cattle Co. to In the Beginning Fossils Inc., South Dakota, on 11 June 2021.
ALR: S00254533, with IADAA Certificate, this item has been checked against the Interpol database.
