UW44800 - Ceratopsidae, Teeth

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The Cretaceous epoch, specifically the Maastrichtian period, saw the emergence of Ceratopsidae, a group of ornithischian dinosaurs that roamed North America and Asia. These ceratopsids were large quadrupedal herbivores characterized by their elaborate horns and frills on their skulls. Horns and frills on ceratopsid skulls served multiple purposes, with debates still ongoing among scientists. Some propose they played a role in self-defense, while others suggest they may have been used for mating displays or species identification within groups. The unique shape of their teeth, arranged in a shearing battery-like formation in the jaws, indicates that these dinosaurs likely fed on high-fiber diets. This specimen consists of an individual tooth from a collection of six teeth.