Ankylosaurus Size report
Ankylosaurus means "sturdy lizard" and was an armored herbivore dinosaur. The fossils of Ankylosaurus were discovered in the formations of western North America, such as Montana, Colorado, Alberta (Canada), etc. They lived in the Late Cretaceous period, dating to the end of the Cretaceous period 68 to 66 million years ago.
Ankylosaurus was named by American paleontologist Barnum Brown in 1908. Brown decided that these names are related to medical arthrosis, which refers to the healing of the skull and bones. The holotype was found in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana, USA. In contrast, other specimens were found in the Lance Formation in Wyoming and the Scollard Formation in Alberta, Canada, all of which date to the late Cretaceous era.
Based on current fossil discoveries and studies, paleontologists speculate that Ankylosaurus had a wide and flat head, a thick deck covering the face, and triangular-shaped spines on the upper side of the head, making its head look like a steel-like shield. Its tail is straight as a hammer.
Ankylosaurus Size And Appearance
Ankylosaurus was a plant-eating dinosaur and wore "armor" like the prehistoric tank. Bones are covered with hard horny; these intradermal osteoderms are arranged neatly in rows on their neck, back, and rump according to size, while small tubercles protect the spaces between the large decks. Smaller decks are on the limbs and tail. Their hind limbs are longer than their forelimbs, and their bodies are bulky, so they can only crawl slowly on the ground with all fours. The skull was flattened and triangular; the largest known skull was 64.5 cm long and 74.3 cm wide. Ankylosaurus was herbivorous, with very small leaf-like teeth, suitable for crushing plants. A row of flat and triangular-shaped spikes protrudes from either side of the tail.
Average Size of Ankylosaurus
A full-grown Ankylosaurus was very large compared with most modern land animals. Ankylosaurus was about 4.5-7 meters long from the head to tail, and has a standing height of 1.5 meters. Its average weight is about 4,000 kg.
Quick Facts | |
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Type: | armored dinosaur |
Diet: | herbivorous |
How it move: | 4 legs |
When it lived: | late Cretaceous |
Height | 1.5 m |
Overall Length | 4.5-7 m |
Weight | 4,000 kg |
Final Words
Ankylosaurus lived in the late Cretaceous period, and there were many carnivorous dinosaurs simultaneously. Its bony, spike-like bone plate and hammer-shaped tail can provide good protection. Would-be predators would have had to flip this armored dinosaur over to reach its broad underbelly-its only weak spot. Its skeleton was excavated in many places, so biologists speculate that Ankylosaurus may be the last to go extinct in the dinosaur group. Though Ankylosaurus is among the most famous dinosaurs, it is also one of the most puzzling.