Ankylosaurus was a huge armored dinosaur almost as big as a battle tank and just about as hard to destroy. Ankylosaurus lived in the late Cretaceous period, about 65 to 75 million years ago.It grew up to 35 feet (10.7 meters) long and six feet (1.8 meters) wide and about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. If Ankylosaurus had wheels instead of four legs it would have easily flattened anything in its path.
What Kind of Body Armor Did Ankylosaurus Have?
To protect Ankylosaurus from ending up on the dinner table its entire top was heavily covered with thick oval plates attached deep within its leathery skin. That is why the name Ankylosaurus means fused lizard - the armor plates on its back were connected together. It had two rows of spikes along its body and large horns coming out of the back of its head. Ankylosaurus was so well protected that it even had bony plates protecting its eyes. The only thing that wasn't protected was its belly. Flipping it onto its back was the only way to wound it.
What's the Deal With Ankylosaurus' Tail?
Getting close enough to Ankylosaurus to flip it would have been a daring stunt. At the end of its tail was something resembling a club. The muscular tail was flexible enough to swing the club dangerously from side to side. A couple swings from Ankylosaurus would have brought down a highrise building, never mind an ordinary house.
What Did Ankylosaurus Eat?
Ankylosaurus was one of the largest armored dinos but not the biggest. Although he was big and scary looking, Ankylosaurus had no teeth. It was a herbivore (it only ate plants). Ankylosaurus had to eat lots of plants to support itself so its gut must have been huge. On top of that, it probably had some sort of compartment in its body to help digest all the tough plants it ate.
Where Did Ankylosaurus Live?
Fossils of Ankylosaurus have been found in Montana and in Alberta, Canada. Two Ankylosaurus skulls and three partial skulls, including armor and a club from the tail have been found. Trackways from Ankylosaurus were found near Sucre, Bolivia, South America. Barnum Brown not only discovered and named this dinosaur in 1908 but he also found T-Rex.
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