Jan. 28, 2009 -- Locking horns, whether for land or love, is a time-honored tradition in the modern-day animal kingdom. But according to new research, antelope and sheep are hardly innovators; pairs of mighty Triceratops were squaring off almost 70 million years ago, spearing each other with their four-foot-long horns in bone-cracking bouts. Watch video of Triceratops at battle. Andrew Farke of the Raymond Alf Museum of Paleontology in Claremont, Calif., and a team of researchers analyzed 400 skull bones from 50 different Triceratops skeletons and compared the number of injuries with injuries to the skulls of Centrosaurus, their single-horned cousins. The three-horned beasts had 10 times as many gashes and healed breaks in their bony frills compared to Centrosaurus, indicating a taste for combat. But the question remains: why? Related Content: Get the Latest in Science and Tech News From Discovery Visit Discovery Dinosaur Central for Dino Profiles, Video, Pics and More More Dino News In modern animals, males often fight over the right to reproduce. But there is also usually a discrepancy between males and females, with males sporting much larger antlers or horns. As far as dinosaur-hunters can tell, there is no difference in horns between the sexes in Triceratops. The animals could have been fiercely territorial, too -- most of their skeletons have been found alone, indicating they were not herders. "It's important to note that we're not saying the only thing Triceratops would use its horns for is fighting," Farke said. "They probably served a variety of functions, like regulating their body temperature, or for display," he added. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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