Before the release of the Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs expansion pack, the Triceratops held the distinction of being the first ever prehistoric creature featured in the Zoo Tycoon series, as a hidden unlockable animal within the first base game: Players could unlock it by completing the "Breeding the Panda" scenario, but it could also be unlocked earlier by renaming an exhibit to "Cretaceous Corral".

Notably, with the installation of the aforementioned Dinosaur Digs, the Triceratops' sprite is modified to appear smaller and less vibrant; it also now functions like the other dinosaurs, such as now requiring to be hatched out of an egg and be taken care of by a scientist (as opposed to a zookeeper), and will break out of all fences from the base Zoo Tycoon game.