Ankylosaurus

Name meaning: Fused Lizard

Time Period: Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) 66mya

Locations: Hell Creek Formation Wyoming - Ferris Formation/Lance Formation Alberta-Horseshoe Canyon Formation

Taxonomy: Ornithischia-Thyreophora-Ankylosauridae

Subspecies: A.magniventris

Characteristics ~ ~ ~ ~

Ankylosaurus was the first Ankylosaur and largest of the Ankylosauria family reaching almost 20 feet long and reaching weights of 4 tons. Ankylosaurus was covered with osteoderms to form heavy armor covering the top and sides of its body. They had dense bone surrounding the entire top of the skull including the eyelids and four horns on each of the back corners of the head. They had an exposed underbelly to reduce weight; predators were unable to reach its underside especially if the animal were to lay down. The last few vertebrae of Ankylosaurus tail formed a circular club out of enlarged osteoderms. Ankylosaurus evolved these clubs not to defend themselves from predators but from each other. Many Ankylosaurs have been found with fractured ribs lining up with ankylosaur clubs meaning probably spared each other over mates or territory. They are primarily depicted being isolated animals since they have no reason to gather in large groups like other herbivores would for defense. There are no signs of predation on Ankylosaurus fossils meaning predators like Tyrannosaurus Rex avoided them. Which makes sense, Tyrannosaurus would break its teeth trying to bite down upon it and one swing from its club tail can instantly break an ankle which is certain death for any predator. Ankylosaurus ate a variety of shrubs and ferns, and other low growth with it’s mouth of only shearing teeth that couldn't chew its food . They had an extremely well developed sense of smell mostly because their heads would be under ferns most of the time. And a close relative Pinacosaurus has been found with a fossilized Larynx that shares more characteristics with birds then crocodiles, so ankylosaurs probably had a wide vocal range.

History ~ ~ ~ ~

Ankylosaurus has very poor material

Media Deptictions

Jurassic Frachise The Ankylosaurus first appearence was in Jurassic Park 3 as a brief cameo. The Isla sorna has a splotch of red around the eyes and is overall more colorfull. It has appeared in all the Jurassic World movies after that in boring shades of gray.