Scientists uncover first evidence that triceratops lived in herds

By Jim Leffman via SWNS

The horned dinosaur triceratops is often depicted in herds despite no real evidence this was how they lived - until now.

Despite films such as "Jurassic Park" showing them in herds, the iconic dinosaur had mainly been found on its own or one adult with juveniles.

But a group of paleontologists who set out to find T.Rex remains and ends up discovering a herd of five triceratops.

The team from Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands was looking for a Tyrannosaurus in the summer of 2013 in Wyoming.

Instead, they found a Triceratops. And then they found another one. And another one. And more. The dig turned into a project that would last for more than ten years.

They eventually dug up 1,200 bones and bone fragments of at least five individuals.

A team of professional and volunteer paleontologists and technicians spent years removing them from the quarry and now a new study by student Jimmy de Rooij from Utrecht University is published as his doctorate.

Dr. de Rooij said: “The material is of very good quality. This enabled us to show that these triceratops grew really slowly, for instance.

"The details of the bonebed indicate that the five dinosaurs died together, possibly mired in a swamp. They are in a thin layer of rock, without bones of other species.

"Research into the physical and chemical properties of the hundreds of triceratops teeth tells of a migratory existence, one that was the same for all five of the dinosaurs.

"This species of dinosaur teamed up, at least occasionally and that of course leads to all kinds of new questions.

“How complex was this social behavior, exactly?”

Dr. De Rooij’s supervisor, Prof Anne Schulp added: “Naturalis, the National Natural History Museum of the Netherlands, now has the biggest triceratops find in the world, and Utrecht University has the first Dr Triceratops in the Netherlands.

"Dr. De Rooij’s work didn’t just result in research papers, but also in an exhibition about his findings.

"As of October, the exhibition will kick off at Naturalis - and kick off the world tour - where the five triceratops are shown as they lived and died 67 million years ago: together.”