As with all Neoceratopsia, the skull of Triceratops was very large and massive. Seen from above, it had a roughly triangular shape, which was due to the pointed muzzle and the wide cheek region. As with all Ceratopsia, the tip of the snout was formed from the rostral bone in front of the upper jaw and the predental in front of the lower jaw. The intermaxillary bone premaxillary behind the rostral bone was very high and one of the most formative elements of the facial skull. The nostrils were clearly enlarged and almost round. The nasal bone had a relatively small nasal horn that may have been coated with keratin.
Triceratops, Eotriceratops and human proportions
The super-eye horns were outgrowths of the postorbital, which also formed the back edge of the eye socket and part of the cheek. These horns were relatively long, but the shape of the individual finds is very variable. The expansive cheek region was heavily modified, the Jugale formed a cheek hump.
As with all Ceratopsidae, the neck shield was formed from the parietal and scaled bones. Compared to the neck shield of related species, it was relatively short and did not have the otherwise paired openings. The outer edge of the shield was sometimes covered with undulating ossifications called epoccipitalia.
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