Description
Triceratops Tooth (T. horridus)
Triceratops, the iconic three-horned dinosaur, possessed a remarkable dental arsenal. Unlike most reptiles with simple, peg-like teeth, Triceratops boasted hundreds of teeth arranged in dental batteries. These teeth weren’t for tearing flesh; instead, they were specialized for grinding tough plant matter. As the dinosaur chewed, the upper and lower teeth would shear past each other, effectively slicing and pulverizing fibrous vegetation.
Interestingly, studies reveal that Triceratops teeth were incredibly complex,and had a self-sharpening mechanism ensuring a continuous, efficient grinding surface, allowing these giant herbivores to thrive on a diet of coarse plant life during the Late Cretaceous period.
Triceratops Dinosaur Tooth.
Dug from the famous Hell Creek Formation, South Dakota.
Cretacous Period 66 Million Years Ago
Approx 10mm
