Triceratops Skull in Colorado, USA

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With its 3 horns, a parrot-like beak and a large frill that could reach nearly 1 metre across, the Triceratops skull is one of the largest and most striking on land. The horns were used to fend off attacks from Tyrannosaurus. A partial Triceratops fossil collected in 1997 has a horn bitten off, with bite marks matching Tyrannosaurus. The fossil shows that the horn healed after being bitten, so some Triceratops survived these encounters. Puncture marks on fossil frills show that male Triceratops used their horns to fight each other, probably to impress females. Many other horned dinosaurs lived in herds due to a fossil find of many different individuals at the same location. By moving in herds, prey animals can warn each other of danger and lessen their chances of being singled out by a predator. However, Triceratops was unusual in this respect, as their remains are usually found individually, suggesting they may have spent much of their lives alone. The Triceratops frill might have helped protect its neck, but some specimens show Tyrannosaurus bite marks puncturing the frill, so it wasn't always enough. The frills could also be used to attract mates, as a way for members of the same species to recognize each other, or to regulate body temperature.