Ankylosaurus
Ankylosaurus is a genus of heavily armoured, four-legged herbivorous dinosaur that lived in the Late Cretaceous of western North America.
Ankylosaurus is a genus of heavily armoured, four-legged herbivorous dinosaur that lived in the Late Cretaceous of western North America. It is best known for its bony body armour and large club-like tail, which likely helped defend it from predators. The name means “fused lizard.”
Description
Ankylosaurus was a low-slung, heavily armoured dinosaur with a broad body, small teeth, and a tail club. Its armour helped protect it from predators, while its build suggests a slow-moving animal.
Discovery and naming
The genus was named by Barnum Brown in 1908. Fossils have been found in western North America, including Canada and the United States.
Life and habitat
Ankylosaurus lived near the end of the Cretaceous in environments that are now part of western North America. It fed on plants and lived alongside other Late Cretaceous dinosaurs.
Classification
Ankylosaurus is an ornithischian dinosaur within Ankylosauria, the armoured dinosaur group. It is one of the largest known ankylosaurs.
Key facts
- Ankylosaurus belonged to the armoured dinosaur group Ankylosauria.
- It lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now North America.
- Its body was covered with bony armour plates, and it had a heavy club at the end of its tail.
- It was a herbivore and moved on four legs.
- The name Ankylosaurus comes from Greek and means “fused lizard.”
Fossils of Ankylosaurus have been found in Alberta, making it relevant to Canadian paleontology and museum collections.
Frequently asked questions
What was Ankylosaurus?
What does Ankylosaurus mean?
Where did Ankylosaurus live?
What did Ankylosaurus eat?
What made Ankylosaurus distinctive?
References
- Natural History Museum — https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/ankylosaurus.htmlSupports: Late Cretaceous age, armoured dinosaur classification, body armour, tail club, North American distribution
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/AnkylosaurusSupports: Genus description, armoured ornithischian classification, time range, North America
- National Geographic Kids — https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric/facts/ankylosaurusSupports: Meaning of name, approximate size, herbivorous nature, extinction timing, fossil distribution
- Live Science — https://www.livescience.com/25222-ankylosaurus.htmlSupports: Name meaning, Late Cretaceous range, western North America and Alberta distribution, size estimates