Types of Dinosaurs.
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Torosaurus

Mounted Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton on display in a museum hall
Gary Todd, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pronunciation
TOR-uh-SAWR-us
Name means
Protuberance Lizard
Diet
Herbivore
Posture
Quadrupedal
Period
Late Cretaceous
Length
20.3 feet (6.2 meters)
Height
8 feet (2.4 meters)
Weight
9,900 - 18,000 pounds

Order: Ornithischia · Suborder: Marginocephalia · Infraorder: Ceratopsia · Family: Ceratopsidae

While Torosaurus has been found in Montana, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, Texas, New Mexico, and Canada, it is a fairly uncommon dinosaur. It had the largest skull of any land animal that ever lived, measuring almost nine feet. The last and most advanced of the horned dinosaurs, Torosaurus had nose horn and a large brow horn that pointed forward. Behind the brow horn, the huge smooth crest extended back almost five feet.

Triceratops skull showing the three horns and large bony frill
Photo: Vicpeters, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

More Cretaceous-period dinosaurs →

Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.

Frequently asked questions

What does Torosaurus mean?

The name Torosaurus means “Protuberance Lizard”. It is pronounced TOR-uh-SAWR-us.

When did Torosaurus live?

Torosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous.

Was Torosaurus a carnivore or a herbivore?

Torosaurus was a herbivore.

How big was Torosaurus?

Torosaurus was about 20.3 feet (6.2 meters) long, around 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall, weighing up to 9,900 - 18,000 pounds.

Related dinosaurs

Other dinosaurs from the Ceratopsidae family.

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