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. Â
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
