Triceratops Epoccipital

SKU
DC65
Out of stock
$165.00
Overview

A rare, Top Quality Triceratops horridus epoccipital (frill ornament) from the late Cretaceous of northern North America. Triceratops was a large ceratopsian dinosaur found in the Hell Creek and Lance Creek formations which is know for three horns and a large frill protecting its neck. This epoccipital has excellent detail preserved and great color / patina. The epoccipitals were triangular bone ornaments that lined the top of the frill. The young Triceratops had narrow and tall epoccipitals, older juvenile Triceratops had low and wide epoccipitals, and adult Triceratops no longer had this ornament. You can see this epoccipital is narrow which are characteristics of a young Triceratops. Complete specimen. No repair or restoration. 100% natural specimen. Legally collected on private land in Garfield Co., Montana. Authenticity guaranteed. 

DC65         SIZE: 1-3/8" Wide x 15/16" Height

Note - Adding 19 new Triceratops bones in May 2023.       Link to Triceratops fossils catalog

 

Triceratops horridus is the large, three horned dinosaur that lived in the late Cretaceous of North America. Triceratops grew to a length of approximately 30 feet, a height of nearly 10 feet, and a weight of 26,000 lbs. This quadrupedal herbivore had beaked jaws for nipping cycads and palms, and their jaws were filled with rows of large teeth used to grind vegetation. Triceratops had large brow horns that can exceed 3 feet in length and had a large bony frill covering its neck. The large brow horns and their strength may have offered defense from their main predator Tyrannosaurus rex. There are two species of Triceratops found in the Hell Creek formation, Triceratops horridus was the more common species. Both Triceratops horridus and Triceratops prosus would have similar teeth, claws and bones.

Today, we find fossilized Triceratops teeth, unguals (claws), horns, and non-associated bones in the Hell Creek Formation.