Ankylosaurus magniventris
Todd Marshall
Anatomy
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,
top view of skull
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.
Time
Periods and Habitats
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.
Mobility
This
creature was slow moving, always at risk of attack
from another predator, such as Tyrannosaurus.
Eating
Habitats
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.
