Torosaurus

### Attributes

Large head; long brow horns; similar to *Triceratops* but with a larger frill and smaller proportion

## Biography

### Locations

North America

***Torosaurus*** (name meaning "*Perforated Lizard*") is a genus of ceratopsian dinosaur that originated during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now North America. Measuring 8 meters long, weighing 6 tons, and related to the almost-identical *Triceratops*, *Torosaurus* is known for possessing one of the largest skulls of any known terrestrial animal and, for a long time, this bulky herbivore has been thought to be the exact same dinosaur as *Triceratops*.

In the Series 2 finale "***Death of a Dynasty II: The Return of the King***", a herd of *Torosaurus* (consisting of nine adults and their offspring) were saved from Late Cretaceous Montana, 65 million years ago. They reside in the Ceratopsian Grasslands Enclosure where they recently welcomed hatchlings into the herd.

## Facts

### Era & Discovery

*Torosaurus* lived in western North American during the Late Cretaceous period from 86 – 65 million years ago. It lived alongside dinosaurs like *Edmontosaurus*, *Ankylosaurus*, and Late Cretaceous mammals. It was also often hunted by *Dromaeosaurus* and *Tyrannosaurus* as a principal source of food. Therefore, *Torosaurus* was close to the bottom of the food chain but it fought back, just as *Triceratops* did. It died out with all other dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous.

   Two years after the naming and discovery of *Triceratops*, *Torosaurus* was discovered and described in 1891 by Othniel Charles Marsh. For many years, *Torosaurus* was thought to have been the exact same dinosaur as *Triceratops*. However, further study showed that the two ceratopsians, despite being in the same family, are two different species of dinosaurs.

### Physical Attributes

Known for being the majestic bulls of the Late Cretaceous period, *Torosaurus* was the second-largest member of the ceratopsian family, after *Triceratops*. It measured about 25 – 27 feet (7.7 – 8.5 m) in length, stood 7 – 8 feet (2.2 – 2.5 m) tall, and weighing an estimated 6 – 7 tons (13,000 – 15,000 lbs.)

*Torosaurus* had a similar stance to that of a rhinoceros. With its formidable horns and powerful, muscular body, *Torosaurus* was like a dinosaur version of a rhinoceros. It featured a large, enormous bony neck frill with large fenestration, or horns, which were used for display, *Torosaurus* had the largest skull of any terrestrial animal. The bony frill had large fenestrae, or holes, to reduce weight and may have been brightly colored and used for display. Apart from the large frill, *Torosaurus* was similar in appearance to its close relative, *Triceratops*. *Torosaurus* had two, large and long horns sprouting above the eyes with a smaller horn on the snout. They used their sharp beaks and rows of shearing teeth to munch tough vegetation.

Fossilized footprints identified as ceratopsian track-ways indicate that the forelegs were slightly splayed, with the hind legs straight under the body, similar to a rhinoceros.

### Behavior & Traits

Like all herbivores and ceratopsian dinosaurs, *Torosaurus* lived and traveled in herds and preferred to live in the inland, dry forest instead of coastal swamps. Surprisingly, *Torosaurus* were relatively sociable dinosaurs – one of the kinds of dinosaurs that liked to live in herds, however, they were sociable up to a point. The dominant males were very territorial, as they could dominate their herds for decades and were masters of their turfs.

   During the rutting season, to display, the males flushed blood into their crests, creating vivid patterns, similar to how a *Stegosaurus* flushed blood into their plates. A *Torosaurus's* huge crest is their reproductive display. For the males, their horns and crest earn them status.

With massive heads and safety in herds, not much on Earth that could threaten *Torosaurus*, except not just *Tyrannosaurus*, but also another *Torosaurus*. For *Torosaurus*, these displays on their frills were designed to avoid physical contact. With horns measuring a meter in length, fighting could easily result in bad injuries. The best and brightest displayed crest was usually all that was needed to settle arguments. However, every now and again, showing off was not always enough, and although fighting was normally a last resort for *Torosaurus*, the males resorted to brute force. And in the end, it was the male with the biggest head that won.

Often in *Torosaurus* fights, youth triumphed over experience. When younger male *Torosaurus* reached a certain age in adulthood, at the very least maturity, they would challenge the older males' authority as the herds' leader. And if younger *Torosaurus* was victorious against older and more experienced male *Torosaurs*, the old male would therefore not only have lost but would also surrender to his younger opponent: Little Torosaurus.

## Trivia

* *Torosaurus* is the second-largest ceratopsian to be brought to the park.
* The sound effects of *Torosaurus* are that of a bison, buffalo, bull, and cow sound effects.