Triceratops explained to kids

Triceratops is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaur that first appeared during the late Maastrichtian stage of the late Cretaceous period, about 68 million years ago (Mya) in what is now North America. It is one of the last-known non-avian dinosaur genera, and became extinct in the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event 66 million years ago. The name Triceratops, which literally means "three-horned face", is derived from the Ancient Greek words τρί- (tri-) meaning "three", κέρας (kéras) meaning "horn", and ὤψ (ōps) meaning "face". Bearing a large bony frill and three horns on its large four-legged body, and resembling the modern rhinoceros, Triceratops is one of the most recognizable of all dinosaurs and is one of the most popular, particularly with children. It shared the landscape with and was preyed upon by the fearsome Tyrannosaurus. (Triceratops has also been known to hunt down Tyrannosaurus in some video games like Turok 2: Seeds of Evil.) Triceratops is one of the best-known dinosaurs and has been featured in film, postal stamps, and many other types of media. The genus was first described in 1889 by Othniel Charles Marsh based on fossil specimens found in Colorado. The largest known Triceratops skull is estimated to have been 2.8 m (9.2 ft) long, while the largest specimen known by weight and length is estimated to have been up to 12.2 m (40 ft) long and weighed up to 16.4 metric tons (18.1 short tons).