Although Triceratops is one of the most abundant faunal components of the Lance Formation in the Western Interior, integument for Triceratops had yet to be reported. In 2002 Black Hills Institute collected one of the most complete skeletons of Triceratops found to date, near the site of the famous Edmontosaurus annectens “mummy” (AMNH-5060) collected by C.H. Sternberg in 1908.

The presence of skin was noted before excavation, and the specimen was removed in large blocks. Subsequent preparation has revealed at least six major integument types from different regions of the body, some in excess of 3 square feet in area, and with tubercles up to 4″ across.

This discovery, which is housed at the Houston Museum of Nature and Science, paints a very different picture of the living animal than has been imagined.