Geological Museum

Department of Geology and Geophysics

Triceratops

Wyoming's State Dinosaur

Geological Age: Late Cretaceous, 65 to 70 million years ago 

Geographic Range: Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Alberta, Saskatchewan

Adult weight: 5 to 6 tons

Length: About 30 ft.

Habitat: Lowland floodplains

Diet: plants

Triceratops was one of the most common dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous Period. Its most prominent features are on its head: two long brow horns, a nasal horn, and a bony frill. Its frill had no holes, but it did have a row of conical bones around the edge. Fossil evidence supports the idea that this head armor was used in display and ritualized combat within its on species. It may have also served to deter predators.

Triceratops had powerful jaws and teeth that were elongated blades, suitable for shearing tough vegetation.

Triceratops is the official state dinosaur of Wyoming. Wyoming is the only state that has both a state dinosaur and a state fossil (Knightia, a fish).