What type of dinosaur is a Euoplocephalus?

How many Euoplocephalus fossils are there?

In 1971, Walter Coombs concluded that they all belonged to Euoplocephalus, which then would be one of the best-known dinosaurs. Recently, however, experts have come to the opposite conclusion, limiting the authentic finds of Euoplocephalus to about a dozen specimens.

How did Euoplocephalus protect itself from predators?

Like other ankylosaurids, Euoplocephalus was largely covered by bony armor plates, among them rows of large high-ridged oval scutes. The neck was protected by two bone rings. It could also actively defend itself against predators like Gorgosaurus using a heavy club at the end of its tail. Size of specimen AMNH 5405 compared with a human.

What is Euoplocephalus?

Euoplocephalus is a genus of ankylosaurid dinosaur that originated from Late Cretaceous North America. One of the best-known dinosaurs, Euoplocephalus possessed fused bone plates on its back that acted as body armor as well as a pair of horns that protruded from the back of the neck as a defense against being attacked by predators.

Is Euoplocephalus an Ankylosaurus?

In 1964, Euoplocephalus was by Oskar Kuhn referred to Ankylosaurus, as a Ankylosaurus tutus. The genus name Euoplocephalus, meaning “well-armed head”, is derived from the Greek words eu (εὖ) meaning “well”, hoplo ~ (ὁπλο~) meaning “armed”, and kephale (κεφαλή) meaning “head”.

Is Euoplocephalus the Batmobile?

About Euoplocephalus. Probably the most evolved, or “derived,” of all the ankylosaurs, or armored dinosaurs, Euoplocephalus was the Cretaceous equivalent of the Batmobile: this dinosaur’s back, head and sides were completely armored, even its eyelids, and it wielded a prominent club on the end of its tail.

What is the Euoplocephalus?

Euoplocephalus is a dinosaur which lived approximately 70 million years ago during the late Cretaceous Period. It was first discovered by paleontologist Lawrence Morris Lambe near Red Deer River in Alberta, Canada in 1897.

How is Euoplocephalus tutus different from other dinosaurs?

Compared to most other dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta, specimens identified as Euoplocephalus tutus have an unusually long stratigraphic range, spanning both the Dinosaur Park and Horseshoe Canyon formations, from about 76 to 67 Ma.

What is the most evolved ankylosaurs?

Probably the most evolved, or “derived,” of all the ankylosaurs, or armored dinosaurs, Euoplocephalus was the Cretaceous equivalent of the Batmobile: this dinosaur’s back, head and sides were completely armored, even its eyelids, and it wielded a prominent club on the end of its tail.

Where was the Euoplocephalus fossil found?

The fossils now referred to this species contained more than forty individuals discovered in Alberta, Canada and Montana in the United States, which would have made Euoplocephalus the best known ankylosaurid. This included fifteen skulls, teeth, and a few almost-complete skeletons, found with the armor still attached.

Is Euoplocephalus the best-known dinosaur in the world?

For 56 million years, body armor was all the rage thanks to the ankylosaurid family. One could argue that, scientifically, Euoplocephalus is this brawny gang’s best-known genus due to an abundance of specimens—though many of these probably came from different dinosaurs (see below for more on that).

How many species of Euoplocephalus exist?

Euoplocephalus was once something of an aberration. After its discovery in 1902, the animal went on to become North America’s most commonly-found ankylosaurid by a cozy margin. Moreover, there was only one species within this genus: Euoplocephalus tutus.

What did dinosaurs like Euoplocephalus eat?

Haas extrapolated from this that dinosaurs like Euoplocephalus likely ate relatively soft non-abrasive vegetation. However, later research indicated that forward and sideways jaw movement was possible, the skull being able to withstand considerable forces. Euoplocephalus appears to have been able to make more complex movements.

Can you keep Euoplocephalus?

One of the more social ankylosaurs, Euoplocephalus is the only species which can’t be kept solitarily. It is more tolerant of other dinosaur species and can also be kept with small carnivores. It will fight with large carnivores. The first fossil of Euoplocephalus was discovered in Alberta in 1897.

What kind of skin did the Euoplocephalus have?

Euoplocephalus lived in the Late Cretaceous Period. It was the size of a rhinoceros, but it probably weighed a lot more thanks to its thick armor. Its back was protected by bands of tough skin with bony plates and big spikes.

How many species of ankylosaurids are there?

Within the Dinosaur Park Formation, there are at least three ankylosaurid species: Dyoplosaurus acutosquameus, Euoplocephalus tutus, and Scolosaurus cutleri.

What are the characteristics of ankylosaurs?

Most Ankylosaurs reached lengths of four to six meters, the largest representatives like Ankylosaurus became up to 8 meters long, while the smallest representatives like Struthiosaurus and Minmi only reached three meters. All Ankylosaurs had a broad, stocky trunk with four short, strong limbs.

Is this Euoplocephalus a herbivore?

A Euoplocephalus. There’s a mouthful, huh? Fortunately, it looks like a herbivore, so there shouldn’t be any of its mouth full of me, right? Euoplocephalus is a genus of ankylosaurid dinosaur that originated from Late Cretaceous North America.

What kind of dinosaur is Euoplocephalus?

Euoplocephalus was one of the largest ankylosaurs. These reptiles are often called “tank dinosaurs,” because of their armor plating. Euoplocephalus lived in the Late Cretaceous Period. It was the size of a rhinoceros, but it probably weighed a lot more thanks to its thick armor.

What did Euoplocephalus have on its back?

One of the best-known dinosaurs, Euoplocephalus possessed fused bone plates on its back that acted as body armor as well as a pair of horns that protruded from the back of the neck as a defense against being attacked by predators.

How did ankylosaurs evolve?

During the late Cretaceous period, ankylosaurs reached the apex of their evolution. From 75 to 65 million years ago, some ankylosaur genera developed incredibly thick and elaborate armor, doubtless a result of the ecological pressures applied by bigger, stronger predators like Tyrannosaurus Rex.