Triceratops

A Triceratops is another one of the most recognisable dinosaurs due to its three horns and it appeared in the Late Cretaceous period around 68 million years ago in what is now known as North America. The Triceratops made appearances in all three Jurassic Park movies and Jurassic World, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Jurassic World: Dominion.

Description

Triceratops were about the same size as a modern-day elephant but resembled a rhino and were herbivores, feeding on low-level plants. It could reach up to 30ft in length, 10ft in height and weighed up to 12 tonnes. Its most distinguishing feature was its enormous skull, which was among the largest of all land dinosaurs. Its main features were its three horns and its frill. It was speculated that it used these in combat with the Tyrannosaurus rex, which roamed in the same areas.

Novels

In the first Jurassic Park novel, it was said that a herd of 8 Triceratops live in “Triceratops Territory” where they have to be separated into smaller groups. Otherwise, they would sometimes kill each other for dominance. At the end of the novel, only 6 Triceratops remain, but they are killed in the napalm bombing.

In The Lost World novel, a herd of Triceratops can be found on Isla Sorna, including one infant and they stay around the river. Later in the novel, they can be seen fighting a group of Velociraptors. The novel describes them as pale brown and having high-pitched barking sounds similar to dogs.

Movies

Jurassic Park

The Triceratops appears in the first Jurassic Park movie. When the main characters were taking a tour of the park in the Explorers, they noticed Gerry Harding, the veterinarian, tending to a sick Triceratops. In a deleted scene, Ellie theorises that the Triceratops got sick because it accidentally swallowed the toxic plant West Indian lilac, thinking they were gizzard stones. An infant Triceratops was also supposed to appear in the film but was abandoned at the last minute.

The Lost World

In The Lost World, a Triceratops and its infant were captured by the InGen team when they reached Isla Sorna. Sarah Harding and Nick Van Owen later free all the dinosaurs and the Triceratops, in particular, does a lot of damage to the camp.

Jurassic Park 3

In Jurassic Park 3, a herd of Triceratops can be seen when the plane flies over Isla Sorna.

Jurassic World

Triceratops could be seen in the Jurassic World theme park. The adults could be found in Gyrosphere Valley and Triceratops Territory, while the juveniles could be found in the Gentle Giants Petting Zoo, where they could be petted and ridden by children.

When the Pteranodon were freed from the aviary during the 2015 incident, a juvenile was grabbed by a Pteranodon.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

A few Triceratops could be seen escaping Mount Sibo that was erupting on Isla Nublar. Several Triceratops were later captured. When Owen and Claire are imprisoned, two Triceratops and a juvenile can be seen. These were among the dinosaurs that Maise Lockwood saved when they nearly died from hydrogen cyanide poisoning. A mother Triceratops and her infant escaped into the forest of Northern California.

Jurassic World: Dominion

There had been confirmed sightings of a herd of Triceratops in Mayo, Ireland. In 2022, a herd of Triceratops, Sinoceratops, and Nasutoceratops were spooked by a group of poachers in pursuit of Claire Dearing, Zia Rodriguez, and Franklin Webb. The herd charged at the poachers and knocked over their vehicles. Several Triceratops were captured by Biosyn and transported to its sanctuary. Triceratops were seen escaping the fire towards the end of the film.

Jurassic World: Rebirth

By the year 2027, dinosaurs outside of the Biosyn sanctuary had started to die due to climate change, but some were surviving in tropical regions near the equator. An animation inside a museum in New York shows Triceratops as one of those surviving species. A Triceratops skull can also be seen at the museum.