History UsefulNotes / PrehistoricLifeCeratopsids

* ''Sinoceratops'' ("Chinese horned face") was very similar to ''Centrosaurus''; even though incomplete, it's the only confirmed ceratopsid found in Asia to date, and has even captured in 2018 the interest of the Jurassic Park producers who chose to show it in ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'' together with other [[StockDinosaurs more famous dinosaurs]] (initially the filmmakers thought about the more-known ''Pachyrhinosaurus'' in the role). With this exposure, it could even become a rare-stock dinosaur in the future. The same could happen about ''Nasutoceratops'' mentioned in the section above, chosen in 2022 by the ''Jurassic Park'' team as one of the new added dinosaurs within ''[[Film/JurassicWorldDominion Jurassic World: Dominion]]''.

* There were other ceratopsids related with ''Styracosaurus'' other than ''Centrosaurus'' and "Monoclonius": for example, “Brachyceratops” ("short horned-face"). Found in the early XX century, it is known only from juveniles, and like “Monoclonius”, could just be a young stage of another ceratopsid. On the other hand, ''Avaceratops'' found in 1986 is a valid animal despite its small size -- 3 m long, one of the smallest known members of the true ceratopsid family. This was a horned dinosaur of uncertain affinites (it was probably a basal centrosaurine), whose name means “Ava’s horned face”: its discoverer named it from his wife’s name. Even though resembles a miniature "Monoclonius", ''Avaceratops'' actually has a thing that makes it very similar to ''Triceratops'': a round tubercled frill with no openings in it.

* Well, it’s true: ceratopsids have really bizarre hairdos. The most astonishing is, needless to say, that of ''Styracosaurus'', with its multiple “horns” protruding from the frill. But some relatives made even their frontal horn a very odd-looking thing: for example ''Einiosaurus procurvicornis''. Discovered in 1994, it was initially believed a new ''Styracosaurus'' species, but with only two terminal spikes on its shield. The strange thing here is the nasal horn: strongly curved, thickened and pointing forwards (''Einiosaurus procurvicornis'' means "buffalo-lizard with the horn curving forwards"), as the animal could signal its target like a pointer dog… more realistically, its shape could have been for ornamental purpose. Another related ceratopsid was also described in 1994: ''Achelousaurus'' ("[[Myth/GreekMythology Achelous]] lizard)": very similar of ''Pachyrhinosaurus'', it shared with the latter the same thickened nose, but had a longer couple of frill-spikes and a less-complex frill than the pachyrhinosaur. Together, ''Einiosaurus'' and ''Achelousaurus'' are among the closest relatives of ''Pachyrhinosaurus'', and they together make what is believed the most-recent & advanced centrosaurine subgroup: the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachyrhinosaurini Pachyrhinosaurini]], while the most-recent & advanced chasmosaurine subgroup is the Triceratopsini (below).

* ''Sinoceratops'' ("Chinese horned face") was very similar to ''Centrosaurus''; even though incomplete, it's the only confirmed ceratopsid found in Asia to date, and has even captured in 2018 the interest of the Jurassic Park producers who chose to show it in ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'' together with other [[StockDinosaurs more famous dinosaurs]] (initially the filmmakers thought about the more-known ''Pachyrhinosaurus'' in the role). With this exposure, it could even become a rare-stock dinosaur in the future.

[[/folder]]

* ''Triceratops, Torosaurus, Ojoceratops,'' and ''Eotriceratops'' were all fairly similar to each other: but there were also two members of the Triceratopsini that took things in a different direction. ''Nedoceratops hatcheri'', maybe an odd ''Triceratops'' specimen, lost altogether its nasal horn (indeed it was originally named "Diceratops", "two-horned face") and had odd pairs of small holes on each side of its frill unseen in other ceratopsids; while ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regaliceratops Regaliceratops]]'' ("royal horned face") was a "long-frilled" ceratopsid seemingly in the process of evolving into a "short-frilled" one, complete with a long nose horn and pointed frill-spikes like a crown (hence the name), resembling a bit a ''Styracosaurus''. In fact, it bears also a [[AccidentallyCorrectZoology resemblance]] to the classic depiction of ''Agathaumas'' (see below).

* ''Triceratops, Torosaurus, Ojoceratops,'' and ''Eotriceratops'' were all fairly similar to each other: but there were also two members of this group that took things in a different direction. ''Nedoceratops hatcheri'', maybe an odd ''Triceratops'' specimen, lost altogether its nasal horn (indeed it was originally named "Diceratops", "two-horned face") and had odd pairs of openings on each side of its frill; while ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regaliceratops Regaliceratops]]'' ("royal horned face") was a "long-frilled" ceratopsid seemingly in the process of evolving into a "short-frilled" one, complete with a long nose horn and pointed frill-spikes like a crown (hence the name), resembling a bit a ''Styracosaurus''. In fact, it bears also a [[AccidentallyCorrectZoology resemblance]] to the classic depiction of ''Agathaumas'' (see below).

* As recently as TheNewTens, many new ceratopsid species have been described, with various frill-shapes, and the classification of the whole family has strongly improved since that. ''Rubeosaurus'', for example, was very similar to ''Styracosaurus'' (and originally considered a species of the latter just like ''Einiosaurus'' above-- some scientists still consider them to be the same), but with shorter frill-spikes and longer nasal horn, one of the longest among all ceratopsids. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabloceratops Diabloceratops]]'' ("devil horned-face") and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machairoceratops Machairoceratops]]'' ("sword-horned face") coupled the pair of long frontal horns with two long frill-spikes, while the nose-horn was almost missing. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasutoceratops Nasutoceratops]]'' ("nosed horned face") had long curved brow-horns and a prominent hornless nose, incidentally similar to the ancestral "missing link" ''Zuniceratops''. One of the most spectacular is ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmoceratops Kosmoceratops]]'': similar to ''Chasmosaurus'', it shows an entire set of curved hooks protruding from the frill-top like a fanciful fringe. While ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinoceratops Sinoceratops]]'' ("Chinese horned face") was very similar to ''Centrosaurus''; even though incomplete, it's the only confirmed ceratopsid found in Asia to date, and has even captured in 2018 the interest of the Jurassic Park producers who chose to show it in ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'' together with other [[StockDinosaurs more famous dinosaurs]] (initially the filmmakers thought about the more-known ''Pachyrhinosaurus'' in the role). With this exposure, it could even become a rare-stock dinosaur in the future.


----

''' The End Of The Line:''' The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triceratopsini Triceratopsini]]

* For a long time, it was generally thought that ''Triceratops'' and its close relative ''Torosaurus'' were the last surviving ceratopsids, the only ones still around at the very end of the Cretaceous. As is usual with such things, recent discoveries have proven that this isn't true. All of these ceratopsians, however, belong to a group called the Triceratopsini, consisting of ''Triceratops'' and its very closest relatives. Since they were all very similar and lived at the same time, they can only be told apart by small details of their skulls. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ojoceratops Ojoceratops]]'' was almost identical to ''Triceratops'', but had a distinct squared-off frill not found in any of its relatives. It also lived farther south in what is now Texas and New Mexico. Even more similar to ''Triceratops'' was ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eotriceratops Eotriceratops]]'', from Colorado and Montana. Although its name means "dawn ''Triceratops''", and that dinosaur is often thought to be descended from it, the oldest fossils of ''Triceratops'' and ''Eotriceratops'' are about the same age, suggesting that they instead shared a common ancestor. ''Eotriceratops'' was also remarkable for its size-- at 9 m long and weighing 8 tons, it was the second-largest ceratopsian ever, with only ''Triceratops'' itself being bigger. While these species-- ''Triceratops, Torosaurus, Ojoceratops,'' and ''Eotriceratops'', plus the controversial ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nedoceratops Nedoceratops]]'' (maybe an odd ''Triceratops'' specimen), were all fairly similar to each other, there was also another member of this group that took things in a different direction. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regaliceratops Regaliceratops]]'' ("royal horned face") was a "long-frilled" ceratopsid seemingly in the process of evolving into a "short-frilled" one, complete with a long nose horn and pointed frill-spikes like a crown (hence the name). In fact, it bore an [[AccidentallyCorrectZoology uncanny resemblance]] to the classic depiction of ''Agathaumas'' (see below).

'''Illustrious Unknowns:''' ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratops Ceratops]]'' & ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agathaumas Agathaumas]]''

* Who knows which is the official prototype of the Ceratopsid family? Well… just ''Ceratops''. More precisely, ''Ceratops montanus'' ("mountain-living horned face"). Found by Marsh during the Bone Wars, it was his first horned dino, but has left only a fragmentary skull. Despite being the first Ceratopsid to be discovered, it's seen as largely insignificant simply because those fossils are ''so'' fragmentary that it would be impossible to ever ''confidently'' identify any more complete skeleton as belonging to ''Ceratops''. It could be ''Chasmosaurus'' or something else, and has been largely ignored by everyone. Not the same about "Agathaumas sylvestris" (meaning "great wonder of the forests"). This animal was also found during the “wars”, this time by Cope; only some pieces of skeleton are known but not skulls, and since non-cranial remains are not diagnostic enough, ''Agathaumas'' is impossible to describe. Many suspect it’s only a ''Triceratops'' individual. And yet, it has had a famous appearance in the 1925 movie version of "The Lost World" (one of the first apparition of dinosaurs in cinema), in which it was portrayed with a ''Triceratops'' look. That apparition made it rather popular at the time, but now has got quite forgotten except among old-movies lovers.

* For a long time, it was generally thought that ''Triceratops'' and its close relative ''Torosaurus'' were the last surviving ceratopsids, the only ones still around at the very end of the Cretaceous. As is usual with such things, recent discoveries have proven that this isn't true. All of these ceratopsians, however, belong to a group called the Triceratopsini, consisting of ''Triceratops'' and its very closest relatives. Since they were all very similar and lived at the same time, they can only be told apart by small details of their skulls. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ojoceratops Ojoceratops]]'' was almost identical to ''Triceratops'', but had a distinct squared-off frill not found in any of its relatives. It also lived farther south in what is now Texas and New Mexico. Even more similar to ''Triceratops'' was ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eotriceratops Eotriceratops]]'', from Colorado and Montana. Although its name means "dawn ''Triceratops''", and that dinosaur is often thought to be descended from it, the oldest fossils of ''Triceratops'' and ''Eotriceratops'' are about the same age, suggesting that they instead shared a common ancestor. ''Eotriceratops'' was also remarkable for its size-- at 9 m long and weighing 8 tons, it was the second-largest ceratopsian ever, with only ''Triceratops'' itself being bigger. While these species-- ''Triceratops, Torosaurus, Ojoceratops,'' and ''Eotriceratops'', plus the controversial ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nedoceratops Nedoceratops]]'' (maybe an odd ''Triceratops'' specimen), were all fairly similar to each other, there was also another member of this group that took things in a different direction. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regaliceratops Regaliceratops]]'' was a "long-frilled" ceratopsid seemingly in the process of evolving into a "short-frilled" one, complete with a long nose horn. In fact, it bore an [[AccidentallyCorrectZoology uncanny resemblance]] to the classic depiction of ''Agathaumas'' (see below).

* For a long time, it was generally thought that ''Triceratops'' and its close relative ''Torosaurus'' were the last surviving ceratopsids, the only ones still around at the very end of the Cretaceous. As is usual with such things, recent discoveries have proven that this isn't true. All of these ceratopsians, however, belong to a group called the Triceratopsini, consisting of ''Triceratops'' and its very closest relatives. Since they were all very similar and lived at the same time, they can only be told apart by small details of their skulls. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ojoceratops Ojoceratops]]'' was almost identical to ''Triceratops'', but had a distinct squared-off frill not found in any of its relatives. It also lived farther south in what is now Texas and New Mexico. Even more similar to ''Triceratops'' was ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eotriceratops Eotriceratops]]'', from Colorado and Montana. Although its name means "dawn ''Triceratops''", and that dinosaur is often thought to be descended from it, the oldest fossils of ''Triceratops'' and ''Eotriceratops'' are about the same age, suggesting that they instead shared a common ancestor. ''Eotriceratops'' was also remarkable for its size-- at 9 m long and weighing 8 tons, it was the second-largest ceratopsian ever, with only ''Triceratops'' itself being bigger. While these species-- ''Triceratops, Torosaurus, Ojoceratops,'' and ''Eotriceratops'', plus the controversial ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeCeratopsidPredecessors Nedoceratops]]'' (maybe an odd ''Triceratops'' specimen), were all fairly similar to each other, there was also another member of this group that took things in a different direction. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regaliceratops Regaliceratops]]'' was a "long-frilled" ceratopsid seemingly in the process of evolving into a "short-frilled" one, complete with a long nose horn. In fact, it bore an [[AccidentallyCorrectZoology uncanny resemblance]] to the classic depiction of ''Agathaumas'' (see below).

* As recently as TheNewTens, many new ceratopsid species have been described, with various frill-shapes, and the classification of the whole family has strongly improved since that. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubeosaurus Rubeosaurus]]'', for example, was very similar to ''Styracosaurus'' (and originally considered a species of the latter just like ''Einiosaurus'' above-- some scientists still consider them to be the same), but with shorter frill-spikes and longer nasal horn, one of the longest among all ceratopsids. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabloceratops Diabloceratops]]'' ("devil horned-face") and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machairoceratops Machairoceratops]]'' ("sword-horned face") coupled the pair of long frontal horns with two long frill-spikes, while the nose-horn was almost missing. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasutoceratops Nasutoceratops]]'' ("nosed horned face") had long curved brow-horns and a prominent hornless nose, incidentally similar to the ancestral "missing link" ''Zuniceratops''. One of the most spectacular is ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmoceratops Kosmoceratops]]'': similar to ''Chasmosaurus'', it shows an entire set of curved hooks protruding from the frill-top like a fanciful fringe. While ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinoceratops Sinoceratops]]'' ("Chinese horned face") was very similar to ''Centrosaurus''; even though incomplete, it's the only confirmed ceratopsid found in Asia to date, and has even captured in 2018 the interest of the Jurassic Park producers who chose to show it in ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'' together with other [[StockDinosaurs more famous dinosaurs]] (initially the filmmakers thought about the more-known ''Pachyrhinosaurus'' in the role). With this exposure, it could even become a rare-stock dinosaur in the future.

'''Dawn Horns:''' [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eoceratops "Eoceratops"]]

* Described in 2007, ''Albertaceratops'' ("Alberta horned face", originally confused with the similar ''Medusaceratops'') was also probably a basal centrosaurine, but with a thing that surprised scientists: it had ''long frontal horns'' just like chasmosaurines like ''Triceratops'', but also a small relief on its one (rather than a proper horn), and two hook-like tubercles on its frill-top like a ''Centrosaurus''.

* Described in the 2000s, ''Albertaceratops'' ("Alberta horned face", originally confused with the similar ''Medusaceratops'') was also probably a basal centrosaurine, but with a thing that surprised scientists: it had ''long frontal horns'' just like chasmosaurines like ''Triceratops'', but also a small relief on its one (rather than a proper horn), and two hook-like tubercles on its frill-top like a ''Centrosaurus''.

* Well, it’s true: ceratopsids have really bizarre hairdos. The most astonishing is, needless to say, that of ''Styracosaurus'', with its multiple “horns” protruding from the frill. But some relatives made even their frontal horn a very odd-looking thing: for example ''Einiosaurus procurvicornis''. Discovered in 1994, it was initially believed a new ''Styracosaurus'' species, but with only two terminal spikes on its shield. The strange thing here is the nasal horn: strongly curved, thickened and pointing forwards (''Einiosaurus procurvicornis'' means "buffalo-lizard with the horn curving forwards"), as the animal could signal its target like a pointer dog… more realistically, its shape could have been for ornamental purpose. Another related ceratopsid was also described in 1994: ''Achelousaurus'' ("[[Myth/GreekMythology Achelous]] lizard)": very similar of ''Pachyrhinosaurus'', it shared with the latter the same thickened nose, but had a longer couple of frill-spikes and a less-complex frill than the pachyrhinosaur. Together, ''Einiosaurus'' and ''Achelousaurus'' are among the closest relatives of ''Pachyrhinosaurus'', and they together make what is believed the most-recent & advanced centrosaurine subgroup, the Pachyrhinosaurini.

* As recently as TheNewTens, many new ceratopsid species have been described, with various frill-shapes, and the classification of the whole family has strongly improved since that. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubeosaurus Rubeosaurus]]'', for example, was very similar to ''Styracosaurus'' (and originally considered a species of the latter just like ''Einiosaurus'' above-- some scientists still consider them to be the same), but with shorter frill-spikes and longer nasal horn, one of the longest among all ceratopsids. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabloceratops Diabloceratops]]'' ("devil horned-face") and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machairaceratops Machairaceratops]]'' ("sword-horned face") coupled the pair of long frontal horns with two long frill-spikes, while the nose-horn was almost missing. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasutoceratops Nasutoceratops]]'' ("nosed horned face") had long curved brow-horns and a prominent hornless nose, incidentally similar to the ancestral "missing link" ''Zuniceratops''. One of the most spectacular is ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmoceratops Kosmoceratops]]'': similar to ''Chasmosaurus'', it shows an entire set of curved hooks protruding from the frill-top like a fanciful fringe. While ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinoceratops Sinoceratops]]'' ("Chinese horned face") was very similar to ''Centrosaurus''; even though incomplete, it's the only confirmed ceratopsid found in Asia to date, and has even captured in 2018 the interest of the Jurassic Park producers who chose to show it in ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'' together with other [[StockDinosaurs more famous dinosaurs]] (initially the filmmakers thought about the more-known ''Pachyrhinosaurus'' in the role). With this exposure, it could even become a rare-stock dinosaur in the future.

* For a long time, it was generally thought that ''Triceratops'' and its close relative ''Torosaurus'' were the last surviving ceratopsids, the only ones still around at the very end of the Cretaceous. As is usual with such things, recent discoveries have proven that this isn't true. All of these ceratopsians, however, belong to a group called the Triceratopsini, consisting of ''Triceratops'' and its very closest relatives. Since they were all very similar and lived at the same time, they can only be told apart by small details of their skulls. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ojoceratops Ojoceratops]]'' was almost identical to ''Triceratops'', but had a distinct squared-off frill not found in any of its relatives. It also lived farther south in what is now Texas and New Mexico. Even more similar to ''Triceratops'' was ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eotriceratops Eotriceratops]]'', from Colorado and Montana. Although its name means "dawn ''Triceratops''", and that dinosaur is often thought to be descended from it, the oldest fossils of ''Triceratops'' and ''Eotriceratops'' are about the same age, suggesting that they instead shared a common ancestor. ''Eotriceratops'' was also remarkable for its size-- at 9 m long and weighing 8 tons, it was the second-largest ceratopsian ever, with only ''Triceratops'' itself being bigger. While these four species-- ''Triceratops, Torosaurus, Ojoceratops,'' and ''Eotriceratops'', plus the controversial ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeCeratopsidPredecessors Nedoceratops]]'', were all fairly similar to each other, there was also a fifth/sixth member of this group that took things in a different direction. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regaliceratops Regaliceratops]]'' was a "long-frilled" ceratopsid seemingly in the process of evolving into a "short-frilled" one, complete with a long nose horn. In fact, it bore an [[AccidentallyCorrectZoology uncanny resemblance]] to the classic depiction of ''Agathaumas'' (see below).

Described in the 2000s, ''Albertaceratops'' ("Alberta horned face", originally confused with the similar ''Medusaceratops'') was also probably a basal centrosaurine, but with a thing that surprised scientists: it had ''long frontal horns'' just like chasmosaurines like ''Triceratops'', but also a small relief on its one (rather than a proper horn), and two hook-like tubercles on its frill-top like a ''Centrosaurus''.

* There were other ceratopsids related with ''Styracosaurus'' other than ''Centrosaurus'' and "Monoclonius": for example, “Brachyceratops” ("short horned-face"). Found in the early XX century, it is known only from juveniles, and like “Monoclonius”, could just be a young stage of another ceratopsid. On the other hand, ''Avaceratops'' found in 1986 is a valid animal despite its small size -- 3 m long, one of the smallest known members of the true ceratopsid family. This was a horned dinosaur of uncertain affinites (it was probably a basal centrosaurine), whose name means “Ava’s horned face”: its discoverer named it from his wife’s name. Even though resembles a miniature "Monoclonius", ''Avaceratops'' actually has a thing that makes it very similar to ''Triceratops'': a round tubercled frill with no openings in it. Described in the 2000s, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertaceratops Albertaceratops]]'' ("Alberta horned face", originally confused with the similar ''Medusaceratops'') was also probably a basal centrosaurine, but with a thing that surprised scientists: it had ''long frontal horns'' just like chasmosaurines like ''Triceratops'', but also a small relief on its one (rather than a proper horn), and two hook-like tubercles on its frill-top like a ''Centrosaurus''.

* As recently as TheNewTens, many new ceratopsid species have been described, with various frill-shapes, and the classification of the whole family has strongly improved since that. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubeosaurus Rubeosaurus]]'', for example, was very similar to ''Styracosaurus'' (and originally considered a species of the latter just like ''Einiosaurus'' above-- some scientists still consider them to be the same), but with shorter frill-spikes and longer nasal horn, one of the longest among all ceratopsids. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabloceratops Diabloceratops]]'' ("devil horned-face") and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machairaceratops Machairaceratops]]'' ("sword-horned face") coupled the pair of long frontal horns with two long frill-spikes, while the nose-horn was almost missing. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasutoceratops Nasutoceratops]]'' ("nosed horned face") had long curved brow-horns and a prominent hornless nose, incidentally similar to the ancestral "missing link" ''Zuniceratops''. One of the most spectacular is ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmoceratops Kosmoceratops]]'': similar to ''Chasmosaurus'', it shows an entire set of curved hooks protruding from the frill-top like a fanciful fringe. While ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinoceratops Sinoceratops]]'' ("Chinese horned face") was very similar to ''Centrosaurus''; even though incomplete, it's the only confirmed ceratopsid found in Asia to date, and has even captured in 2018 the interest of the Jurassic Park producers who chose to show it in ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'' together with other [[StockDinosaurs more famous dinosaurs]] (initially the filmmaker thought about the more-known ''Pachyrhinosaurus'' in the role). With this exposure, it could even become a rare-stock dinosaur in the future.

''' The End Of The Line:''' The ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triceratopsini Triceratopsini]]''

* For a long time, it was generally thought that ''Triceratops'' and its close relative ''Torosaurus'' were the last surviving ceratopsids, the only ones still around at the very end of the Cretaceous. As is usual with such things, recent discoveries have proven that this isn't true. All of these ceratopsians, however, belong to a group called the Triceratopsini, consisting of ''Triceratops'' and its very closest relatives. Since they were all very similar and lived at the same time, they can only be told apart by small details of their skulls. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ojoceratops Ojoceratops]]'' was almost identical to ''Triceratops'', but had a distinct squared-off frill not found in any of its relatives. It also lived farther south in what is now Texas and New Mexico. Even more similar to ''Triceratops'' was ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eotriceratops Eotriceratops]]'', from Colorado and Montana. Although its name means "dawn ''Triceratops''", and that dinosaur is often thought to be descended from it, the oldest fossils of ''Triceratops'' and ''Eotriceratops'' are about the same age, suggesting that they instead shared a common ancestor. ''Eotriceratops'' was also remarkable for its size-- at 9 m long and weighing 8 tons, it was the second-largest ceratopsian ever, with only ''Triceratops'' itself being bigger. While these four species-- ''Triceratops, Torosaurus, Ojoceratops,'' and ''Eotriceratops''-- were all fairly similar to each other, there was also a fifth member of this group that took things in a different direction. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regaliceratops Regaliceratops]]'' was a "long-frilled" ceratopsid seemingly in the process of evolving into a "short-frilled" one, complete with a long nose horn. In fact, it bore an [[AccidentallyCorrectZoology uncanny resemblance]] to the classic depiction of ''Agathaumas'' (see below).

* As recently as TheNewTens, many new ceratopsid species have been described, with various frill-shapes, and the classification of the whole family has strongly improved since that. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubeosaurus Rubeosaurus]]'', for example, was very similar to ''Styracosaurus'' (and originally considered a species of the latter just like ''Einiosaurus'' above-- some scientists still consider them to be the same), but with shorter frill-spikes and longer nasal horn, one of the longest among all ceratopsids. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabloceratops Diabloceratops]]'' ("devil horned-face") and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machairaceratops Machairaceratops]]'' ("sword-horned face") coupled the pair of long frontal horns with two long frill-spikes, while the nose-horn was almost missing. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasutoceratops Nasutoceratops]]'' ("nosed horned face") had long curved brow-horns and a prominent hornless nose, incidentally similar to the ancestral "missing link" ''Zuniceratops''. One of the most spectacular is ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmoceratops Kosmoceratops]]'': similar to ''Chasmosaurus'', it shows an entire set of curved hooks protruding from the frill-top like a fanciful fringe. While ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinoceratops Sinoceratops]]'' ("Chinese horned face") was very similar to ''Centrosaurus''; even though incomplete, it's the only confirmed ceratopsid found in Asia to date, and has even captured in 2018 the interest of the Jurassic Park producers who chose to show it in ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'' together with other [[StockDinosaurs more famous dinosaurs]]. With this exposure, it could even become a stock dinosaur in the future.

The Ceratopsid family is divided in two subfamilies: the three-horned/long-frilled one and the single-horned/short-frilled one. [[note]]At least, these are the criteria traditionally said in dino-books, but there are several exceptions -- just as an example, ''Triceratops'' was of the "three horned" subfamily but had a short frill nonetheless.[[/note]] The ceratopsid of the image pertains to the first subfamily. Among three-horned/long-frilled ceratopsids you'll see ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Chasmosaurus]]'', ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pentaceratops]]'' & ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Torosaurus]]'' more often; less-frequently, ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Arrhinoceratops]]'' & ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Anchiceratops]]''. About the single-horned kinds, other than the multi-spiked ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Styracosaurus]]'' the chances are to meet ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Monoclonius]]'' or ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Centrosaurus]]'' (which could actually be the same animal). Since the 1990s/2000s the no-horned ''[[UsefulNotes/StockDinosaursOrnithischianDinosaurs Pachyrhinosaurus]]'' has also become a frequent sight. Some of them have even made occasional apparitions in fictional media other than in documentaries.

''' The Triceratops Tribe:''' The ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triceratopsini Triceratopsini]]''

* For a long time, it was generally thought that ''Triceratops'' and its close relative ''Torosaurus'' were the last of the ceratopsids, the only ones still around at the very end of the Cretaceous. As is usual with such things, recent discoveries have proven that this isn't true. All of these ceratopsians, however, belong to a group called the Triceratopsini, consisting of ''Triceratops'' and its very closest relatives. Most of them are much less common than their famous relatives, and since they lived at the same time, they can only be told apart by small details of their skulls. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ojoceratops Ojoceratops]]'' was almost identical to ''Triceratops'', but had a distinct squared-off frill not found in any of its relatives. It also lived farther south in what is now Texas and New Mexico. Even more similar to ''Triceratops'' was ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eotriceratops Eotriceratops]]'', from Colorado and Montana. Although its name means "dawn ''Triceratops''", and that dinosaur is often thought to be descended from it, the oldest fossils of ''Triceratops'' and ''Eotriceratops'' are about the same age, suggesting that they instead shared a common ancestor. ''Eotriceratops'' was also remarkable for its size-- at 9 m long and weighing 8 tons, it was the second-largest ceratopsian ever, with only ''Triceratops'' itself being bigger. While these four species-- ''Triceratops, Torosaurus, Ojoceratops,'' and ''Eotriceratops''-- were all fairly similar to each other, there was also a fifth member of this group that took things in a different direction. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regaliceratops Regaliceratops]]'' was a "long-frilled" ceratopsid seemingly in the process of evolving into a "short-frilled" one, complete with a long nose horn. In fact, it bore an [[AccidentallyCorrectZoology uncanny resemblance]] to the classic depiction of ''Agathaumas'' (see below).

''' The Triceratops Tribe:''' The ''[[[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triceratopsini Triceratopsini]]''

''' The Triceratops Tribe:''' The ''[[[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triceratopsini Triceratopsini]]'''

''' The Triceratops Tribe:''' The ''[[[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triceratopsini Triceratopsini]]''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1200px_titanoceratops.jpg]][[caption-width-right:350:Mr. Three Horn!]]

* As recently as TheNewTens, many new ceratopsid species have been described, with various frill-shapes, and the classification of the whole family has strongly improved since that. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubeosaurus Rubeosaurus]]'', for example, was very similar to ''Styracosaurus'' (and originally considered a species of the latter just like ''Einiosaurus'' above), but with shorter frill-spikes and longer nasal horn, one of the longest among all ceratopsids. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabloceratops Diabloceratops]]'' ("devil horned-face") and ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machairaceratops Machairaceratops]]'' ("sword-horned face") coupled the pair of long frontal horns with two long frill-spikes, while the nose-horn was almost missing. ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasutoceratops Nasutoceratops]]'' ("nosed horned face") had long curved brow-horns and a prominent hornless nose, incidentally similar to the ancestral "missing link" ''Zuniceratops''. One of the most spectacular is ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmoceratops Kosmoceratops]]'': similar to ''Chasmosaurus'', it shows an entire set of curved hooks protruding from the frill-top like a fanciful fringe. While ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinoceratops Sinoceratops]]'' ("Chinese horned face") was very similar to ''Centrosaurus''; even though incomplete, it's the only confirmed ceratopsid found in Asia to date, and has even captured in 2018 the interest of the Jurassic Park productors who chose to show it in ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'' together with other [[StockDinosaurs more famous dinosaurs]]. Slightly before all these ones was described a more normal-looking ceratopsid, ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eotriceratops Eotriceratops]]'' ("dawn Triceratops", not to be confused with "Eoceratops"): extimated 11 meters long, it is one of the biggest ceratopsid known so far, as large as the largest ''Triceratops''es.