For decades, triceratops and their relatives were known only through fossils. Now, groundbreaking research by Japanese paleontologists has mapped the soft tissue anatomy of these iconic horned dinosaurs, unveiling unexpected structures that may shed light on their ability to regulate body temperature and breathe effectively.
The ceratopsians, a group that includes the famous triceratops, represent one of the most diverse and successful dinosaur lineages of the Late Cretaceous period.
Their skulls are among the most intricate structures ever formed through vertebrate evolution, featuring a beak, distinctive horns, frills, an elongated snout, and a compact tooth row specifically adapted for processing tough vegetation.
Researchers have traditionally concentrated on the functionality of their cranial features—chiefly the horns, beaks, and frills—since these characteristics likely contributed to their ecological dominance on land.
In contrast, the evolutionary significance of the enlarged nasal region of these dinosaurs remains largely uncharted.
“Since my master’s studies, I have focused on the evolution of reptilian heads and noses,” said Dr. Seishiro Tada, a paleontologist affiliated with the University of Tokyo Museum.
“The triceratops possessed an unusually large and complex nose. While I knew the fundamental reptilian structure, I struggled to understand how the internal organs fit within it,” he remarked.
This curiosity led Dr. Tada deeper into the study of nasal anatomy, its functions, and its evolutionary implications.
In this recent study, Dr. Tada and his team meticulously examined various cranial specimens of the triceratops.
“Using advanced CT scan data, akin to our understanding of contemporary reptilian snout morphology, we discovered several unique attributes within the snout. This research presents the first comprehensive insight into the soft tissue anatomy of horned dinosaurs,” explained Dr. Tada.
“The nasal structures of triceratops exhibited atypical ‘wiring.’ In most reptiles, nerves and blood vessels navigate from the jaw to the nostrils. However, the shape of the triceratops skull reroutes these pathways through the nasal branches,” he added.
“Essentially, the soft tissue evolved to support their prominent noses. I noted this while assembling 3D-printed skull segments of triceratops like a jigsaw puzzle,” Dr. Tada continued.
The researchers identified specialized structures within the triceratops nasal cavity, known as respiratory turbinates. This anatomical feature is underrepresented in other dinosaurs but common in birds and mammals, descendants of modern-day dinosaurs.
These delicate, coiled nasal surfaces enhance the interaction between air and blood, facilitating temperature regulation through effective heat exchange.
While triceratops probably wasn’t entirely warm-blooded, the team believes these structures assisted in controlling temperature and humidity levels, crucial for managing the heat generated by their large skulls.
“Although we’re not entirely certain, we note that while most dinosaurs lack evidence of respiratory turbinates, some birds display similar ridges of these structures, and horned dinosaurs may exhibit analogous features in equivalent nasal locations,” Dr. Tada stated.
“This leads us to hypothesize that triceratops possessed respiratory turbinates akin to those found in birds.”
“Horned dinosaurs represent the last group in which we investigated head soft tissue, effectively completing the puzzle of dinosaur anatomy,” Dr. Tada concluded.
The team’s paper is published in the journal Anatomical Records.
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Seishiro Tada et al. Soft tissue anatomy of the nose in triceratops and other horned dinosaurs. Anatomical Records, published online on February 7, 2026. doi: 10.1002/ar.70150
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