Hi there, plant-eaters and friends! I’m Tori, a young Triceratops with three tiny horns that are just starting to grow on my face! My body is a warm khaki-grey color, and behind my horns, I have a beautiful fan-shaped frill that looks like I’m wearing a fancy shield. My frill has special light sandstone coloring with unique darker markings that are all my own—no other Triceratops has the exact same pattern!

I live with my herd in a valley full of the most delicious plants you could imagine. Every day, I use my special beak (it works just like garden shears!) to snip off ferns, cycads, and palm fronds. Did you know that Triceratops like me can eat hundreds of plants every day? We’re very hungry dinosaurs!

One morning while munching on my favorite ferns, I asked my mom a very important question: “Why do we have three horns?” She explained that our horns help protect our herd, and our frill shields our neck from danger. But that’s not all! Our frills also help us recognize each other because every Triceratops has different patterns on their frill—kind of like fingerprints!

I love being part of my herd. We travel together through forests, eating our way through tasty plants. When we rest, the adults arrange themselves in a circle with babies like me safe in the middle. Our heavy bodies (as heavy as four elephants!) and strong legs make us like walking tanks.

I learned just how important our horns and herd are one afternoon when a hungry T-Rex appeared while we were feeding! I watched in amazement as all the adult Triceratops quickly formed a circle, pointing their horns outward. Even that big T-Rex knew better than to mess with a united Triceratops family!

“See?” my mother said afterward. “We’re stronger together. Our horns protect us, our frills make us look bigger, and our herd keeps us safe.”

That night, as we settled down to sleep in our protective circle, I felt so proud of my growing horns and beautiful frill. I’m not just Tori—I’m part of the mighty Triceratops family!

                                                                                                      Stomping with joy, Tori