Cretaceous Battlefield: T. rex vs Triceratops

There is arguably no dinosaur on dinosaur conflict that is more depicted and sensationalized then Tyrannosaurus vs Triceratops.

T. rex vs Triceratops is the one that is always popping up. Why is that? Well, probably the biggest reason that the general public may not even consider is that a fight between a T. rex and a Triceratops could have happened. They both lived in the same place at the same time (Western North America, about 66 Million Years Ago), and are both generally considered tough dinosaurs. A fight between two dinosaur powerhouses that actually lived together is just to alluring of an image to pass up.

Triceratops is often depicted as a power house of a dinosaur, like a modern day rhino but three times as big. It is often depicted using it’s horns offensively, goring into the sides of large predators. However, some scientists have considered an alternate theory.

It is theorized instead by some that the head of the Triceratops was brightly colored and used for display, and the horns merely aided that function. It has been inferred through several specimens of different age groups that the size and shape of the horns changed as they grew, so it may have also been a sign of sexual maturity or dominance. Some who propose this theory disregard the popular image of the horns being used as weapons, saying the horns were too delicate for offensive purposes and would break in battle.

However, nature is frugal, and will often adopt multiple uses for any given asset. Let’s take a look at a modern example. Deer use their antlers for display purposes and as a sign of sexual maturity, but they also use them to fight amongst themselves…

Source: www.natgeo.com