The Ankylosaurus is a dinosaur armed with spikes and a tail with a club protuberance. The dinosaur was completely robust. The bones of her skull and other parts of her body were fused which caused her rare strength. The size of the largest ankylosaurus specimen ever found was 20.5 feet in length, 5.6 feet in height and 1.5 meters in width. With this size, the dinosaur weighed an estimated 4.8-6 tons. The dinosaur was covered with a thick armor on its skin which consisted of oval plates of bone and massive knobs called respectively shields and osteoderms. The osteoderms had a compact and thin bone on the outside and a spongy bone on the inside. Moreover, they were covered in keratin and leather. There were two rows of spikes along the ankylosaurus body.
Habitat and eating habits of Ankylosaurus
The ankylosaurus existed in the Cretaceous period which was about 65.5 million to 66.8 million years ago. It was the last non-avian dinosaur to exist. Ankylosaurus lived in Canada and the western United States. The ankylosaurus fed on low plants and grassy pastures. He had a narrow beak at the end of his head that helped to strip the leaves of the plants. He also had leaf-shaped teeth that could break larger plants. To compensate for its inability to grind its food, the ankylosaurus had a fermentation system in their gastrointestinal tract that destroyed any uneaten plant it ate. Their nasal passage was complex and was not just for perfume purposes. It was also important in regulation with its body temperatures. Their central nervous system indicated that their brains had a large olfactory bulb. The bulb could smell so quickly that it helped them get food and keep them alert to predators.
The fossil findings of Ankylosaurus
Barnum Brown, a paleontologist, found the first remnants of the ankylosaurus dinosaur in 1906 at Hell Creek Formation in Montana. The remains were made of the upper part of the skull, the ribs, the vertebrae and the shoulder belt. About 6 years later, he discovered his osteoderms. However, he thought they belonged to another type of dinosaur. When Brown discovered the ankylosaurus he remained for the third time, found limb bones, ribs, a complete skull and armor. He also discovered the tail club. All his discoveries are currently on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. To date, no complete ankylosaurus skeleton has been unearthed. In addition to Brown’s discovery, only three major specimens of the ankylosaurus have been discovered. Charles Sternberg, a paleontologist, he discovered the largest known skull of the ankylosaurus. The lack of ankylosaurus remains that have been discovered indicates the fact that they were very rare. It could be due to their low population or high tendency to prey on other larger dinosaurs. However, paleontologists say they believe that ankylosaurus “lived in environments far from water bodies where fossilization is not usually very favorable
