Triceratops Anatomy in 3D: Skeleton, Organs, Horns and Frill
Triceratops was a plant-eater with three horns and a huge bony frill, and it lived alongside T. rex. In the 3D Dinosaur Anatomy simulator you can circle it from horns to tail, look inside and explore its skeleton.
Explore in 3DThree ways to see Triceratops
Full body
Fossil skeletonTriceratops quick facts
| Lived | About 68 to 66 million years ago, Late Cretaceous |
|---|---|
| Length | About 8 to 9 m |
| Weight | About 6 to 12 tonnes |
| Diet | Plants |
| Fossils found in | Western North America |
The Triceratops fossil skeleton
The Triceratops skeleton is dominated by its enormous skull, over 2 m long, with two long brow horns, a short nose horn and a solid bony frill. A sharp beak and rows of shearing teeth sliced tough plants, and four sturdy legs carried its heavy body.
Inside Triceratops
In the Inside view you can tap these labels on the 3D model:
- Brain
- Controls every move, sense and thought.
- Heart
- Pumps blood around the whole body, all day and night.
- Lungs
- Take in oxygen from the air with every breath.
- Intestines
- A long gut slowly broke down tough plants like ferns and cycads.
Interesting facts about Triceratops
- Its skull was over 2 m long, one of the biggest skulls of any land animal.
- The two brow horns grew to about a metre long.
- It had a sharp beak and hundreds of teeth packed in rows for slicing plants.
- Some Triceratops bones carry bite marks from T. rex.
- Its name means three-horned face.
Compare: T. rex vs Triceratops: Real Enemies, Compared in 3D · Triceratops vs Stegosaurus: Horns vs Plates in 3D
More dinosaurs and prehistoric reptiles in 3D
Triceratops anatomy questions
What did Triceratops use its horns for?
Probably for defence against predators like T. rex and for sparring and showing off to other Triceratops.
How big was Triceratops?
About 8 to 9 m long and around 6 to 12 tonnes, about the size of a large elephant or bigger.
Did Triceratops live at the same time as T. rex?
Yes. Both lived in western North America about 68 to 66 million years ago.
What did Triceratops eat?
Low-growing plants such as ferns, cycads and palms, cut with its beak and sliced with its teeth.
The 3D Dinosaur Anatomy simulator is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up.