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Major cranial changes during Triceratops ontogeny.

John R Horner1, Mark B Goodwin

  • 1Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-0040, USA. jhorner@montana.edu

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|October 4, 2006
PubMed
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This study reveals how Triceratops horns and frills change from baby to adult dinosaurs. These features likely helped young Triceratops identify each other and signal maturity.

Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Vertebrate Paleontology
  • Cranial Ontogeny

Background:

  • Triceratops, a Late Cretaceous dinosaur, is known for its three horns and large frill.
  • Previous research has not focused on the cranial ontogeny of Triceratops.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct the first cranial ontogenetic assessment of Triceratops.
  • To analyze the developmental changes in Triceratops skulls and their associated features.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of a growth series of 10 Triceratops skulls, from neonate to adult.
  • Identification and tracking of ontogenetic characters in postorbital horns, frill, nasal horn, and epoccipitals.

Main Results:

  • Postorbital horns change orientation from straight stubs to anteriorly recurved structures.

Related Experiment Videos

  • The frill margin evolves from scalloped to smooth, with epoccipitals changing shape and merging.
  • Key developmental trends include nasal suture closure, epinasal fusion, and horn development.

    • Conclusions:

    • Ontogenetic changes in Triceratops horns and frills likely served functions in visual identification of juveniles.
    • These morphological shifts may also signal the attainment of sexual maturity in Triceratops.