Ankylosaurus

Ankylosaurus (an - KEE - loh - SAW - rus) was a genus in the Ankylosauridae Family. They lived during Late Cretaceous Period in western North America. Ankylosaurus takes its name from the bony nature of its skeleton. "Ankylosed" means "stiffened with bone"-and this is a fair description. The head was covered with an extra layer of bony plates and spikes, the back and tail were covered by interlocking bony shields, and the vertebrae at the end of the tail were welded together by bone.

The heavy, bony tail club was wielded like a wrecking ball and could do serious damage to any attacking predator. Despite the weight of the tail club and its position at the end of a long, heavy tail, the club was carried clear of the ground. Trackways made by Ankylosaurus and its kin show no signs of a tail dragging behind. Like its close relative Euoplocephalus, Ankylosaurus had a complex systems of loops and twists in its nasal passages. These may have been for warming air, reclaiming water from expiring air, or for enhancing the sense of smell. It is also possible that they were used as a resonating chamber, helping the creature to make loud mating or distress calls.

In Jurassic Park
First seen in Jurassic Park III, Ankylosaurus does not play a major role in the movies. It was briefly seen grazing during the "Valley of the Dinosaurs" scene.

In Jurassic Park inspired games

 * Ankylosaurus may be seen as a four-star large herbivore in the video game Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis. It is possible for it to engage in "Death Duels" with Tyrannosaurus. Tyrannosaurus sometimes comes on top by having its neck snapped (holding its head down with its foot and then twisting it with its jaws) or by being attacked from underneath.
 * Ankylosaurus can be created from paleo-DNA in the game Jurassic Park III: Park Builder.
 * Ankylosaurus appears in the game Warpath: Jurassic Park.

Links

 * myjurassicpark.com
 * Ankylosaurus on Wikipedia