It made up the bulk of the plant eating population just before the end of the Cretaceous. Its remains are particularly common in coastal lowland sediments. Triceratops had a single, short nasal horn and horns as long as hockey sticks protruding above its eyes. It had large eyes and a relatively large brain. Triceratops was probably a feisty animal.
Many specimens have bones damaged in combats with rivals or predators.
Triceratops remains were first discovered near Denver, Colorado, in 1887. At first they were identified as the remains of a recently extinct species of buffalo. The first Triceratops skull found in Alberta was discovered by C.M. Sternberg near Big Valley in 1946. This document was prepared by Wayne Hortensius, Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the Royal Tyrrell Museum Cooperating Society. All Rights Reserved.