Ankylosaurus
were quadrupedal, armor plated dinosaurs with large, wide bodies. Ankylosaurus
weighed up to 5 tons, and were about 30 feet long. While they were 6 feet
wide, there were only 4 feet tall. Its legs were short, with strong dense
bones to support its massive weight, with the rear legs longer than the
front legs. It had five toes on each foot. Its skull was triangular and
flat, making them to have a low intelligence among other dinosaurs, due
to the small brains they possessed.

Ankylosaurus also had short spikes along its sides of its armored body.
It also had horns protruding from the back of its head. Unlike Stegosaurian
Dinosaurs, its armor was attached directly to its skeleton, instead of
being attached to its skin. Many of the internal supporting structures
like the vertebrae and ribs were also fused together.

Its
plated armor protected it from bites and kicks from a predator, and it
swung its clubbed tail at an attacker in self defense. Even large carnivores
such as Tyrannosaurus, would probably have a though time breaking through
ankylosaurus armor.

Ankylosaurus would lie flat on the ground, protecting their soft belly
from attackers. But, if Ankylosaurus was knocked over, its soft abdomen
will offer no resistance against attacks. Ankylosaurus appeared in North
America towards the end of the Dinosaur's Age, between 65 and 70 million
years ago. It was one of the last dinosaurs that were wiped out by the
Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event. This creature was slow moving, always
at risk of attack from another predator, such as Tyrannosaurus.

Ankylosaurus were herbivores (plant eaters). Giving its anatomical posture,
they must have been better adapted to feed on low lying vegetation. It
probably had a fermentation compartment like other herbivores to assist
in the digestion process, producing large amounts of flatulence (gas).

Discovery
Ankylosaurus fossils have been found in Montana, USA and Alberta, Canada.
Two skulls and three partial skeletons, have been found. Barnum Brown,
gave its name in 1908.

Ankylosaurus magniventris Paleo GalleryClick on images to see more art from artist!