Species
Torosaurus latus
Torosaurus latusTorosaurus latus carried one of the largest skulls of any known land animal, crowned by an immense, elongated neck frill pierced by two massive openings. Powerful jaw muscles coupled with a shearing dental battery allowed it to slice through tough, fibrous vegetation across the floodplains and coastal lowlands of ancient North America. The vast bony crest likely served primarily as a dynamic visual display for species recognition and mate selection rather than heavy defensive armor.
PrehistoricHerbivoreFossil
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyFerns, Cycads, Conifers
Predators
- Tyrannosaurus rex
ThreatsCretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, climate shifts, and predation
HabitatsLate Cretaceous subtropical floodplains, coastal plains, and open woodlands
Life span30–50 years
Classification
- FamilyCeratopsidae
- SpeciesTorosaurus latus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct species known only from fossil specimens.
Responsible observation
- Museum Viewing: Examine the skull fenestrae on fossil mounts to distinguish it from solid-frilled relatives.
- Fossil Etiquette: Leave fossil material undisturbed in the field and alert certified paleontologists.
Predator no rights reserved, uploaded by wilderbombyx · cc0
Frequent Companion (c) The_Wookies, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Competitor (c) Tim Evanson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Ryan Somma, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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