Dinovember 2019: Triceratops scale map

Schematic map displaying the scale pattern of Triceratops prorsus. After completing the illustration I realized the scales of the lower sides should probably be relatively bigger, similar in size to the ones on the upper back. Anyway, dont take this one as well as the Anatosaurus as rigurous reconstructions.

We can know the kind of skin covering and scale, scute and osteoderms pattern of certain fossil animals thanks to petrified skin impressions found alongside their bones or in their footprints. In the case of Triceratops and other ceratopsids, we are lucky to have found some specimens with fossilized soft tissue or skin prints.

I can't remember the author of the skeleton I based this drawing on, my apologies. The elongated horn seaths and queratinized head are inspired by the post on Mark Witton's blog about the topic. Made with black ink and quill