MSU research: torosaurus is just older triceratops

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Story Published: Jul 19, 2010 at 4:00 AM MST

Story Updated: Jul 19, 2010 at 4:00 AM MST

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Research by Montana State University paleontologists has found that a triceratops and a torosaurus were actually the same dinosaur at different stages of growth.

The study by doctoral student John Scannella and paleontology professor Jack Horner upends more than 100 years of thought. It was published in the July 14 issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Dinosaurs identified as triceratops have a three-horned skull with a short frill, while a torosaurus had three horns, but a much bigger frill with two holes in it.

But studies showed even the largest triceratops skulls were still undergoing dramatic changes, while torosaurus specimens were more heavily remodeled. Also, Scannella notes, torosaurus specimens are much more rare than triceratops and none of the torosaurus specimens came from immature animals.

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