Ankylosaurus
PALAEONTOLOGICAL RECORD
Ankylosaurus is a genus of armored dinosaur. Its fossils have been found in geological formations dating to the very end of the Cretaceous Period, about 70-66 million years ago, in western North America, making it among the last of the non-avian dinosaurs. It was named by Barnum Brown in 1908; it is monotypic, containing only A. magniventris. The generic name means "fused" or "bent lizard", and the specific name means "great belly". A handful of specimens have been excavated to date, but a complete skeleton has not been discovered. Though other members of Ankylosauria are represented by more extensive fossil material, Ankylosaurus is often considered the archetypal member of its group, despite having some unusual features.
DISCOVERY
Discovered by Barnum Brown in 1906.
DIETARY PROFILE
Ground level forager, equipped with a uniquely complex nasal passage.
NOTABLE PALAEONTOLOGY FACTS
- Its massive tail club was highly effective at shattering the bones of attacking Tyrannosaurs.
- It was practically immune to predators from the top, requiring them to be flipped over to be vulnerable.
HOLLYWOOD INACCURACIES
- Armor depiction is quite accurate.
- Movement is shown somewhat faster than realistically plausible.
