Why are scientists claiming that the Triceratops never existed?
Scientists at the Museum of the Rockies say that the triceratops might not have ever existed.
The torosaurus is a close relative of the triceratops–scientists are claiming that the triceratops might in fact be a juvenile form of the torosaurus.
But what explains the change in skull shape? Scientists say that skulls can change shapes as creatures mature throughout their lifetime. As the animal aged, its horns changed shape and its frill became longer and less jagged. This was possible because the bone tissue in the frill and horns stayed spongy and immature. This is unique to the species because most animals’ bones harden into early adulthood.
This does explain why adolescent torosaurus fossils have never been found–scientists have only uncovered the remains of adults.
UPDATE: Researchers have decided that it is in fact the torosaurus that has never existed. The triceratops was discovered and named two years before the torosaurus, making the torosaurus an adult triceratops.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/02/triceratops-was-juvenile_n_667475.html
