![]() While adults are rarely bothered by predators other than Tyrannosaurus, young ankylosaurs are vulnerable to many Hell Creek predators, such as Dakotaraptor, Acheroraptor, Pectinodon, crocodylomorphs and Palaeosaniwa, due to their still forming armor which would be soft and easy to pierce, and must either hide from predators or seek shelter in the company of more intimidating targets for protection.Īnkylosaurus are tan and black to match its' habitat and have molten orange on their amour.ĭescribed as the "beefcake of Hell Creek", Ankylosaurus is largely solitary and is a territorial animal, though it tolerates other members of its species during breeding season. This theory is not so widely accepted anymore and it is believed by most that the club tail of the Ankylosaurus was specifically used as a defensive weapon. At one time paleontologists also believed that the bony round tail of the Ankylosaurus served to detract from its head by tricking predators in to believing that the smaller tail knob was in fact the head of the Ankylosaurus. A study conducted in 2009 showed that the huge tail and the bony knobs on the end of the tail could easily have broken bones in most predators of the Ankylosaurus and if lucky enough, they could kill its attacker. By swinging its club tail with such force the Ankylosaurus would have been able to inflict extreme damage on any potential predator. The Ankylosaurus is thought to have been able to swing its large club tail by utilizing large tendons which connected the last interlocking vertebrae on the tail. It is believed, from the analysis of fossilized Ankylosaurus tails that their clubs were most likely used as defensive weapons. In order to support such a heavy club at the end of its tail though, the Ankylosaurus’ last seven tail vertebrae were interlocked and formed a stiff rod which was able to support such large bony protuberances. The Ankylosaurus tail was certainly not as flexible as some other dinosaur tails due to the last few vertebrae being fused with large bony protrusions which form the well known club tail shape. The Ankylosaurus did not just have armored plates and bony knobs to protect it, however, and one of the other most recognized aspects of this heavily armored herbivore is its large club-like tail. The top of the dinosaur was almost completely covered with thick armor consisting of massive knobs and oval plates of bone, known as osteoderms or scutes which would help protect it from predators, which are also common on crocodiles, armadillos and some lizards. It probably had a fermentation compartment to aid in the digestion of the tough plant material, producing prodigious amounts of gas. The largest known ankylosaurid, Ankylosaurus measured up to 6.25 meters (20.5 feet) in length, 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) in height, and may have weighed up to 6 tons (13,000 lb).Īnkylosaurus had to eat a huge amount of low-lying plant material to sustain itself so its gut must have been very large. Though other members of Ankylosauria are represented by more extensive fossil material, Ankylosaurus is often considered the archetypal member of its group. ![]() A handful of specimens have been excavated to date, but a complete skeleton has not been discovered. The genus name means "fused lizard" and the specific name means "great belly". ![]() Named by Barnum Brown in 1908, the only species classified in the genus is A.
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