Species Profile: Ankylosaurus

Ankylosaurus "Fused-Lizard"

Ankylosaurus magniventris is a large armored dinosaur known from the Hell Creek formation. It sported armored osteoderms covering its entire body. These animals have large clubbed tails to compete with other members of their species as well as to be used as a weapon against large predatory dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex. 

The name Ankylosaurus means "Fused-Lizard" and refers to the intense fusion of bone connecting its caudal vertebrae to its clubbed weapon at the end of the tail. Ankylosaurus is one of many members of a family of dinosaurs called "Thyreophorans" This group of dinosaurs has a rich history in the fossil record and includes much more ancient dinosaurs like Stegosaurus and Scutellosaurus. In the Hell Creek formation however, Ankylosaurus has only one other relative, Denversaurus, part of a group called Nodosaurs.  Nodosaurs are distinct from Ankylosaurs in that they lack a tail club and instead have shoulder mounted spikes and armor to deter attacks from predatory dinosaurs.