Torosaurus
Torosaurus latus
Pronounced: Tore - o -
Sore - us
Diet: Herbivore
(Plant-Eater)
Name Means: "Piercing
Lizard"
Length: 25 feet (8 m)
Height: 8 feet (2.7 m)
Weight: 7 tons (12,000
kilos)
Time: Late Cretaceous -
68 MYA
Fossil remains for this Dinosaur have been found in Western North America
Torosaurus had the largest skull of any animal that ever walked the Earth! With its large frill and pointed beak, it was more than 8 feet (2.5 m) long. It had a huge frill and long horns over its eyes. It was about the same size as the most famous member of its family, Triceratops In fact, these dinosaurs were very closely related and one of the few differences was that Torosaurus had large openings in its frill. This could have been to make it lighter since it was so big.
As a member of one of the most successful dinosaur
families, Torosaurus shared many characteristics with the
ceratopsians . It was a large, stocky herbivore that fed on
plants growing low to the ground. It used its sharp beak to
strip the plants and its banks of cheek teeth to pulverize
them. Torosaurus was likely a herd-dwelling animal.
Torosaurus's frill was huge. It would have made an
impressive display when tilted up, perpendicular to the
ground. It is possible that it was used as a method of
intimidation or for attracting mates, or both. It would also
have provided protection to the neck and upper back when
attacked from above. |
