The Horned Giant of the Late Cretaceous
Torosaurus was a large ceratopsid dinosaur that lived approximately 66-68 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period.
| Meaning | Perforated lizard [Toro-saurus] |
| Pronunciation | TOR-oh-sore-us |
| When: | Late Cretaceous (about 70–66 million years ago) |
| Where: | North America (USA, Canada) |
| What: | Ceratopsian (herbivorous) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 6–9 metric tons |
| Length: | Approximately 7–8 meters (23–26 feet) |
| Diet: | Herbivorous (ate vegetation) |
| Discovered: | First described by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1891 |
It was discovered in North America and is closely related to Triceratops, though they differed significantly in their cranial anatomy.
Torosaurus had an elongated frill at the back of its skull adorned with fenestrae (holes) and two long, backward-curving brow horns.
These features distinguished it from Triceratops, which had a shorter frill and shorter brow horns.
Torosaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur, likely feeding on low-lying vegetation.