Triceratops and similar horned dinosaurs had unusually large nasal cavities compared to most animals. Researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo, used CT scans of fossilized Triceratops skulls and compared their structures with modern animals such as birds and crocodiles. Through direct observation and inference, researchers reconstructed how nerves, blood vessels and structures for airflow fit together in the skulls. They concluded horned dinosaurs probably used their noses not just for smelling but also to help control temperature and moisture. Their study is published in The Anatomical Record.
