Since March 2022, the public can see Horridus , the most complete Triceratops fossil in the world, at the Melbourne Museum (Australia).
One of the most famous dinosaurs is Triceratops . Along with Tyrannosaurus rex and Brontosaurus , it is one of the species that arouses the most fascination among children. Its three horns and robust body give it the appearance of a fantastic beast, but its status as a herbivorous animal seems to convey a friendly closeness compared to the violent ferocity of large carnivorous predators. This fame always favors that some species of dinosaurs are more studied than others. It is natural that the attraction to a dinosaur generates more doubts and encourages more researchers to find answers. Since 2014 we have been lucky to have a Triceratops specimen whose exceptional level of conservation allows us to learn even more about these dinosaurs.
The remains of Horridus were discovered in Montana in 2014. Part of the pelvis protruded from the sandstone that sheltered what ultimately turned out to be a nearly complete Triceratops skeleton. The Natural Science Museum in Melbourne took possession of the fossil, whose remains were transported to Australia in seven huge boxes. Once in Melbourne, all the bones were measured, labeled, and scanned for a 3D sample before the skeleton was reconstructed and displayed to the delight of visitors.
Así you are horrid
Thus known by the scientific name of its species, Triceratops horridus , which, along with Triceratops prorsus , are the two species of the genus identified so far. A fun and interactive description of the fossil is offered on the museum’s website. In addition to a detailed 3D online view of the entire skeleton, the fossil is located chronologically and an estimate of its proportions is indicated.
This Triceratops lived 67 million years ago , during the Cretaceous, in present-day North America. We can see on the web a realistic recreation of the dinosaur compared to the size of a tram car. This species averaged 2 meters in height and could reach up to 8 meters in length . An adult Triceratops weighed between 6 and 12 tons , which is shown in the online presentation with a scale in which up to seven medium-sized cars must be put together to balance Horridus’ weight.
The most complete fossil
The skeleton is made up of 266 bones , which represents 85% of its body . The robust bone pieces that make up the fossil have favored the fact that the animal has reached our days in such a good state of preservation. The most outstanding features are its vertebral column and skull, elements that have been practically completely preserved, which gives us a wealth of information to reconstruct the appearance and way of moving that Triceratops had. The head of Horridus has been preserved by 98% , in which we can clearly see two long horns on the forehead and a more flattened one on the nose, as well as the imposing frill in which the back of the skull curves. Altogether, the head of Horridus weighs 261 kilos .
New discoveries
This extraordinary state of conservation has made it possible to discover new characteristics of Triceratops . It is the first time that researchers have been able to observe a Triceratops tail with all the bony pieces that made it up . Recreating the movement of this limb is much easier with a full sample in front. The same advantage works in our favor to study the gaits of this dinosaur.
Much interest has been put into his cranial cavity, from which a cast of his brain and ear has been taken. This has allowed us to know that this species could perceive low-frequency sounds such as the footsteps of large predators.
a public fossil
It is to be celebrated that on this occasion the institution that has bought the fossil has been a museum , so it will be exposed to the public and can continue to be studied. We do not always have the same luck. In 2020, one of the best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons was auctioned off by a private buyer whose identity we do not know. A lost opportunity for science and, therefore, for humanity. Fortunately, Horridus will indeed be a public fossil.
References:
Irving, M. 2022. Meet Horridus, the world’s best-preserved and most complete Triceratops. newatlas.com.
Weisberger, M. 2022. Meet ‘Horridus,’ one of the most complete Triceratops fossils ever found. livescience.com.
