Redescription of Ankylosaurus magniventris Brown 1908 (Ankylosauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of the Western Interior of North America

Abstract

The armor-plated dinosaur Ankylosaurus magniventris is redescribed based on specimens from the Hell Creek Formation of northeastern Montana, USA., Lance Formation of Wyoming, USA., and from the Scollard Formation of south-central Alberta, Canada. Except for brief descriptions, most of these specimens have not been described in detail. Ankylosaurus is one of the largest known ankylosaurids, having an estimated length of up to 6.25 m (20.5 ft). It is characterized by a long, low skull having very prominent cranial “horns” that project laterally or dorsolaterally. The body armor includes a large half-ring that sat across the base of the neck and shoulders and a large, low tail club.