Page 82 - The Dinosaur Book and Other Wonders of the Prehistoric World (DK-Smithsonian)

Ankylosaurs

The tail was
covered with sharp,
bladelike plates.

Pinacosaurus

Sauropelta

The first
The body was
flat and wide, dinosaur found
making it difficult in Antarctica
for predators
to attack. was the ankylosaur
Antarctopelta.

The remains of
this dinosaur were
discovered in Asia—it Ankylosaurus
had a long body with
rows of bony studs
on its back.

The tail club
was formed from
solid bone. Saichania

Talarurus
The front legs were
protected by a cluster
of studs and plates.

Protected from head to tail, the tanklike had bodies covered with bony plates and
ankylosaurs first appeared about 175 studs strong enough to break the teeth of any
million years ago. They were slow-moving attacking dinosaur. But as predators got bigger
plant-eaters, so without their body armor, and more powerful, ankylosaurs such as
they would have been easy targets for predators. Saichania developed thick armor that may
80 Early ankylosaurs such as Scelidosaurus have discouraged even the massive-jawed

US_080-081_Ankylosaurs.indd 80 10/04/18 3:33 PM