Ankylosaurus

Scientific Name: Ankylosaurus

Most common Location: Cretaceous

Conservation Status: Extinct

More Facts:

Ankylosaurus was a heavily armoured dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 66 million years ago. With its thick, bony plates, club-like tail, and low, sturdy body, it was one of the best-defended dinosaurs in history, built to withstand the threats of the Cretaceous landscape.

An herbivore, Ankylosaurus used its powerful jaws to chew on low-lying plants, shrubs, and ferns. Its distinctive body armor, made up of bony plates and spikes, provided excellent protection against predators like Tyrannosaurus rex. The most notable feature of Ankylosaurus was its tail club—a weapon of defense that could deliver powerful blows to attackers.

At Hoo Zoo, our Ankylosaurus helps visitors explore the evolution of defensive adaptations, the role of armoured dinosaurs in prehistoric ecosystems, and how these creatures survived in a world of apex predators. Observing this armoured giant up close gives visitors a chance to appreciate its incredible natural defences and its place in the ancient food chain.