Wiktionary
n. Any herbivorous dinosaur of the genus (taxlink Torosaurus genus noshow=1).
Wikipedia
Torosaurus is a controversial genus of herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaur that lived during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Cretaceous period, between 68 and 66 million years ago. Its name means "perforated lizard" in reference to the large openings in its frill. Fossils have been discovered across the Western Interior of North America, from Saskatchewan to southern Texas.
Torosaurus possessed one of the largest skulls of any known land animal. The frilled skull reached up to in length. From head to tail, Torosaurus is thought to have measured about long and weighed four to six tonnes. Torosaurus is distinguished from the contemporary Triceratops by an elongate frill with large openings (fenestrae), long squamosal bones of the frill with a trough on their upper surface, and the presence of five or more pairs of hornlets (epoccipitals) on the back of the frill. Torosaurus also lacked the long nose horn seen in Triceratops prorsus, and instead resembled the earlier and more basal Triceratops horridus in having a short nose horn. Three species have been named, Torosaurus latus, T. gladius and T. utahensis. T. gladius is no longer considered a valid species, however.
Recently the validity of Torosaurus has been disputed. A 2010 study of fossil bone histology combined with an investigation of frill shape concluded that Torosaurus probably represented the mature form of Triceratops, with the bones of typical Triceratops specimens still immature and showing signs of a first development of distinct Torosaurus frill holes. During maturation, the skull frill would have been greatly lengthened and holes would have appeared in it. In 2011, 2012 and 2013 however, studies of external features of known specimens have claimed that morphological differences between the two genera preclude their synonymy. The main problems are a lack of good transitional forms, the apparent existence of authentic Torosaurus subadults, different skull proportions independent of maturation and the assertion that hole formation at an adult stage is not part of a normal ceratopsian maturation sequence.
Usage examples of "torosaurus".
The Torosauruses occasionally lowered their horns to warn the pack of Dromaeosauruses to keep their distance.
The Torosaurus lowered its head so its horns pointed at the three predators blocking its way.
The Torosaurus was still shaking its head at its three foes when one of the other two Dromaeosauruses rushed and dug its claws into the Torosaurus’s flank.
The Torosaurus, bellowing in pain, swung around, but its tormentor leapt beyond its reach.
Although the beleaguered Torosaurus was still able to fend off most attacks, the number of its wounds steadily increased.
The skewered Dromaeosaurus thrashed about as the Torosaurus lifted and shook its head.
The Torosaurus fell over on its side and lay still in the red-stained water.