It’s the battle of the horned dinosaurs — Styracosaurus vs. Triceratops! Styracosaurs were lighter on their feet and had better agility, but the Triceratops would win, likely because of their size.
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Battle Facts about Styracosaurus vs. Triceratops
| Name | Styracosaurus “spiked lizard” | Triceratops “three-horned face” |
| Size | 16–18 feet long, 4,400 pounds | 30 feet long, 12,000 pounds |
| Speed | 20 mph | 20 mph |
| Offense | Giant nose-horn like a rhinoceros | Three pointed horns, massive weight |
| Defense | Large bony frill that protected its neck, smaller size | Frill protected its neck |
| Endurance and Behavior | Lighter weight made it a better runner, heightened endurance | Large but have uneven gait and reduced endurance |
What was the Difference between a Triceratops and a Styracosaurus?
The Triceratops and the Styracosaurus were two large and in-charge dinosaurs that roamed North America during the Campanian period. They may look similar but have a few key differences.
The biggest difference between the Triceratops and the Styracosaurus was their size. The Triceratops was a much larger dino. It is measured to be up to 30 feet long, about 10 feet longer than the size of the Styracosaurus. The Triceratops also weighed 12,000 pounds, almost double that of a Styracosaurus.
The Triceratops had three horns on its face that it used to protect itself in battle, similar to a rhino. While the Styracosusus only had one, it was a massive weapon in combat. In addition to its giant horn nose, it also has scary spikes lining its neck frill.
Were the Triceratops and Styracosaurus Related?
Yes, the Triceratops and the Styracosaurus were related. These two Ceratopsian dinosaurs roamed North America during the Cretaceous period but were separated by a few million years.
The Styrocosaurus lived around 75 million years ago, while the Triceratops lived around 66 million years ago. Think of the Styracosaurus as a distant ancestor to the Triceratops.
Other relatives of the Triceratops and Styracosaurus include:
- Centrosaurus
- Chasmosaurus
- Pachyrhinosaurus
- Pentaceratops
- Torosaurus
These herbivorous late Cretaceous dinosaurs were all gentle plant-eating giants but would defend territories as needed.
Where Did They Live?
While the Styracosaurus and Triceratops were separated by a few million years, they were North American dinosaurs. Paleontologists discovered fossil evidence of both Ceratopsian dinosaurs in Alberta, Canada.
Living in North America, these dinosaurs needed strong defense mechanisms like neck frills and horns to protect them from fierce predators such as:
- T-Rex
- Tyrannosaurs
- Carnotaurus
- Spinosaurus
- Giganotosaurus
- Torvosaurus
How Did the Styracosaurus and Triceratops Fight?
As herbivores, the Styracosaurus and Triceratops didn’t hunt for their food like meat-eating carnivores. They often traveled in packs, searching for plants and other tasty North American snacks. However, they sometimes fought over territory when mating or if they felt threatened.
In battle, the Styracosaurus and the Triceratops used the long horns on their face to strike down an enemy. They could reach high speeds of around 20 miles per hour and slam into an opponent with their massive weight. (The Triceratops weighed about as much as an African elephant!)
The Styracosaurus and the Triceratops differ from other gentle giants like the Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus, and Iguanodons because they have built-in weapons (horns) in their faces that keep them protected from predators.
Who would win, Styracosaurus or Triceratops?
It should come as no surprise that the Triceratops would be the winner. Compared to the Styracosaurs, the Triceratops doubles in weight and was almost twice as big as the Styracosaurus.
However, the victory wouldn’t be a slam dunk. The Styracosaurus has more defensive than the Triceratops, and it would put up a good fight.
Although the Triceratops was bigger and more aggressive than the Styracosurus, it was not as quick or agile, and its massive weight could be a disadvantage in some instances.
While Triceratops was bigger, the Styracosaurs were lighter on their feet. They had better agility to outmaneuver the Triceratops, but ultimately, the Triceratops would win.