Triceratops
| Triceratops | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Screenshot from Mario Kart World | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. film (1993) | ||
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) | ||
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Triceratops[1] are a genus of real life dinosaur that has appeared infrequently in the Super Mario franchise. They are large quadrupedal reptiles characterized by the three horns on their face and the bony frills that grow from behind their heads. Triceratops make their Super Mario debut in Diddy Kong Racing, and have since reappeared mostly in other dinosaur-related contexts.
History
Super Mario Bros. (film)
An animated triceratops appears alongside another dinosaur in the opening to the 1993 Super Mario Bros. film. When the other dinosaur says "You know, it just don't get no better than this," the triceratops replies: "Yeah."
Diddy Kong Racing / Diddy Kong Racing DS
- Main article: Tricky
A large red triceratops named Tricky appears as the first boss of Diddy Kong Racing and its remake. He was brainwashed by the game's main antagonist, Wizpig, and is raced on the course Tricky Challenge. Once defeated twice (the second time after completing every Silver Coin Challenge in Dino Domain), he is liberated from Wizpig's spell and Tricky awards the player the first piece of the Wizpig amulet.
During the ending cinematic, Tricky dances alongside two smaller triceratops of pink and yellow color.
Mario Artist: Paint Studio
In Mario Artist: Paint Studio, a triceratops appears as one of the seven creatures the player can take a photo of in Dinosaur Land. Doing so unlocks the ability to edit the triceratops textures.
Super Mario Odyssey
A triceratops skeleton appears at the top of Fossil Falls in Super Mario Odyssey. It can be stood on, and spinning Cappy on its center horn will release a Power Moon.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Nintendo Switch)
A triceratops skeleton based on the one from Super Mario Odyssey appears in the level Mine Cart Cascade Crusade, which is based on the Cascade Kingdom. The skeleton is found over a waterfall, like in Super Mario Odyssey, and it is travelled under during the Mine Cart ride. Its exposed nostril contains a Super Gem, which can be collected by throwing a turnip at it.
Luigi's Mansion 3
A large triceratops skull can be found in the Unnatural History Museum in Luigi's Mansion 3. Luigi can use the Poltergust G-00 to collect Bills from its jaw.
Mario Kart World
This section is referring to a subject in an upcoming or recently released game. When the game is released, or more information about this subject is found, this section may need major rewriting.
This notice should be removed after a month has passed since the game was first released.
Green triceratops appear in Mario Kart World, where they can be found roaming in Dino Dino Jungle. They are depicted with a flattened frill and nose horn, allowing racers to use them as ramps.
Missions
Triceratops are featured in the following missions:
| Mission | Location | Time limit (seconds) | Description | Sticker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ramp off the triceratops! |
Dino Dino Jungle | 20.00 | Use the triceratops as a ramp. | |
 Race offroad through a dinosaur-filled jungle! |
Dino Dino Jungle | 15.00 | Race through rings in an area filled with triceratops, T. rexes, and brachiosauruses. | 
|
 Zip past and over the wild dinosaurs! |
Dino Dino Jungle | 15.00 | Race through rings in an area filled with triceratops, T. rexes, and brachiosauruses. |
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | トリケラトプス[2] Torikeratopusu |
Triceratops | |
| French | Tricératops[3] | Triceratops |
