Teenage photo of Torosaurus? Perhaps.

Flash forward: Triceratops in a few years. I'm confused.

Yes, it's true! The Triceratops, favorite dinosaur of many, is believed to not have been its own species of overly-large lizard, but rather just a juvenile delinquent form of another, the Torosaurus, which is a much less cool species of dinosaur. Ever heard of it? Yeah, neither has anyone else. Barney is a git.

Some scientists--John Scannella and Jack Horner, the be precise--made the claims. By doing so the two not only made outlandish theories no one had ever imagined before, but they showed they have minimal things to do in their lives. Seriously, how else can you come up with this stuff unless your life is entirely dedicated to dinosaurs? Makes you wonder if these guys even go outside or are permanently whiter than chalk.

Anyways, back to the point, the idea states that the fossils found of the so called Triceratops were really just under-developed bones of the Torosaurus, the overwhelmingly unpopular dinosaur no one cares about. Also, according to the idea, dinosaur skeletons would be under constant changes in shape, in this case the spikes would would lower in angle, and the big giant frill thing would become more circular.

While the theory certainly has people thinking, many people just aren't willing to give up the dinosaur species they once loved. We all remember the scene from Jurassic Park where that one broad dug thorough piles of Tri-top crap looking for something that no one cared about, and the priceless line: "That is one big pile of shit". Not only that, but Triceratops have been crucial in other things like, er, something or other. Just trust me on that one, ok?

Regardless, this remarkable new thinking has brought upon us something to think about during this awfully boring and hot time of year. While it remains at just a postulate--neither confirmed nor rejected--it will make a big impact deep down inside all of us lizard-lovers. Or something. Well, maybe not, because I'm not that affected at all, really. now you can go off and be brainy at the next dinner party, until you get asked about politics anyway.