Triceradon

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Triceradon
Transformers character
Dinobot Triceradon from Beast Machines
Affiliation	Maximal
Sub-Group	Dinobots (Beast Machines)
Rank	Sub-Commander
Function	Frontline Combat
Motto	It's better to have stood your ground and lost than never to have stood at all."
Alternate Modes	Triceratops
Series	Beast Machines

Bio & Tech Specs: Though not incredibly bright, Triceradon was chosen to be second-in-command based on his amiable nature and incredible strength in battle. As an iron-hided triceratops, Triceradon's horns generate reverse electro fields that render enemies paralyzed. Stores two reactonix grenades in his tail.

1 Beast Machines
2 Dinobots
3 Transformers: Universe
4 External Links

[edit] Beast Machines

In a desperate attempt to combat Megatron's techno-organic virus on Cybertron, the Oracle Supercomputer reformats a group of surviving Transformers, rendering them immune to the plague and extremely powerful. Using the DNA schematics of former Maximal Dinobot, each warrior emerges as a hybrid of savage prehistoric power and advanced Cybertronian robotics...the result, the fearsome Dinobots are born!

Triceradon was one of the original five founding members of the Dinobots (Beast Machines) group. Because triceratopses are herbivores many fans assume that Triceradon (along with Striker) may actually have been a Maximal who was reprogrammed into a Predacon who are standardly carnivorous predators.

The Triceradon toy was part of the Dinobots faction of Beast Machines which featured no new molds but did release molds previously unseen in America. He was a recolor of Beast Wars Neo Guiledart.

Unknown to may American fans however, Guiledart (along with other Predacons from ‘’Beast Wars Neo’’) had a “trap mode”. Guiledart’s trap mode was made to look as if he had been killed, eyes rolling back, tongue lolling out, rib cage ripped open, and his tail torn off. Because Triceradon shares this form, many fans were lead to believe that the character was suppose to die at some point before the end of the Beast Machines run. Presumably Dinotron would replace him as second in command.

Although the Dinobots' intro states that the Dinobots received their beast modes through the slicing of Dinobot's DNA, it is likely that the Oracle also used the fossil chamber (seen in the Beast Machine series) to utilize Triceratops DNA.

Triceradon is a homage to the original Dinobot Slag in both his triceratops beast form and second in command status.

[edit] Dinobots

The Dinobots sub-line was a Wal-Mart exclusive released during 2003. They are a return of the popular Dinobots sub-group from Generation One. But they are not connected to any other existing Transformers storyline officially and they did not receive any biography so it is difficult to pinpoint their background, which is open to interpretation.

Triceradon, although not present during the original sub-group is supposed to represent Slag as the original Dinobot's name is no longer available due to someone else owning the trademark or because it was simply undesirable. It is unknown whether Triceradon is the same character from Beast Machines or a different character who shares the same name and mold. Triceradon comes with the Dinobots Slapper who also does not appear in the original series. This is most likely done so that people who only want to buy the four namesakes to the original Dinobots can do so without having to purchase "outsiders".

[edit] Transformers: Universe

Released as "Dinobot Triceradon" in America during 2004, Triceradon was no longer an exclusive and widely available to fans who were unable to find the previous exclusive release. Because of a similar naming scheme to Dinobot Striker, Hasbro may have wanted to have the Beast Machines Dinobots present for Universe but unfortunately Dinobot Triceradon was the last Dinobot to appear in this line.

This version of Triceradon appeared in the Transformers: Universe comics among the various captives of Unicron who made their escape, while at the same time Beast Machines Triceradon was appearing among the Dinobots in the Transformers: Universe - Wreckers comic book, so there seems to be two Triceradons in that storyline alone!