Two species, T. horridus and T. prorsus, are considered valid today, from the seventeen species that have ever been named. Triceratops was traditionally placed within the 'short-frilled' ceratopsids, but modern cladistic studies show it to be a member of the Chasmosaurinae which usually have long frills. More recent interpretations find it probable that these features were primarily used in species identification, courtship, and dominance display, much like the antlers and horns of modern ungulates. Traditionally, these have been viewed as defensive weapons against predators. The functions of the frills and three distinctive facial horns on its head have long inspired debate. It shared the landscape with and was possibly preyed upon by Tyrannosaurus, though it is less certain that two adults did battle in the fanciful manner often depicted in museum displays and popular images. It was also one of the largest, up to 9 meters (29.5 ft) long and 12 metric tons (13 short tons) in weight. The name Triceratops, which literally means 'three-horned face', is derived from the Greek words trí- ( τρί-) meaning 'three', kéras ( κέρας) meaning 'horn', and ṓps ( ὤψ) meaning 'face'.īearing a large bony frill, three horns on the skull, and a large four-legged body, exhibiting convergent evolution with rhinoceroses and bovines, Triceratops is one of the most recognizable of all dinosaurs and the most well-known ceratopsid. It is one of the last-known non-avian dinosaur genera, and became extinct in the Cretaceous–Holocene extinction event 66 million years ago.

Triceratops is an extinct genus of herbivorous chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur that first appeared during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous period, about 68 million years ago in what is now North America.

Chasmosaurus jurassic world evolution