Dino diversity dwindles

PhysOrg.com

Paleontologists have determined that the rare Torosaurus dinosaur is simply a mature version of a Triceratops dinosaur. Due to large differences in their skulls, it was believed that they were distinct species for over 100 years. The researchers made the discovery after examining a number of Triceratops and Torosaurus fossils at different stages of growth.

The acceptance that Triceratops and the rarer Torosaurus are the same species – and that as dinosaurs aged their skulls were capable of radical physical change – could prompt researchers to re-examine other dinosaur fossils.