Panoplosaurus

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Quick Facts
Name	Panoplosaurus
Diet	Herbivore
Weight	3175 kilograms
Length	7 meters
Height	1.2 meters
Period	Late Cretaceous

Panoplosaurus was a genus of nodosaurid dinosaur that lived during the late Cretaceous. They were known to be the last nodosaurs living in the Late Cretaceous in North America. The fossils were found in Alberta, Canada. It was named by Canadian paleontologist Lawrence Lambe in 1919. The name comes from the Greek words meaning "fully armored lizard".

Panoplosaurus was a heavily armored dinosaur that had studded plates covering its back and tail. Unlike ankylosaurs, its tail lacked the club. Large paired ovals were keeled, possessing a prominent curved ridge on the outer surface of the bony armor that covered the neck, shoulders, and forelimbs. It had shoulder spikes, the head had a compact helmet shield, and the cheek had scutes. Its skull was broad and short at the back. It had a relatively narrow snout, and the hands had only three fingers.

The skull was short and broad posteriorly. The head of the holotype specimen was unusually rounded; the other two skulls were longer and flatter, perhaps reflecting age or gender differences.

Panoplosaurus was 5 to 7 meters long, about 2 meters tall, and weighed an estimated 1.5-1.6 tons.

What does Panoplosaurus mean?

The name Panoplosaurus comes from the Greek words meaning "fully armored lizard".

What did the Panoplosaurus eat?

Panoplosaurus was a plant-eating animal that digested all types of plants, including grasses.

Where did you discover the Panoplosaurus?

The fossils were found in Alberta, Canada, and were named by Canadian paleontologist Lawrence Lambe in 1919.

Where did they live?

When did they live?

What was your diet?

Who discovered them?

What kind of dinosaurs are they?

What type of species are they?

How are they classified?

References

Lambe, L. M. 1919. Description of a new genus and species (Panoplosaurus mirus) of armored dinosaur form the Belly River Beds of Alberta. Transations of the Royal Society of Canada (series 3), 13, 39-50.
Carpenter, K. 1990. Ankylosaurs systematics: example using Panoplosaurus and Edmontonia (Ankylosauria: Nodosauridae).Dinosaurs systematics. Approaches and Perspectives. Carpenter, Kenneth and Currie, Philip J. (eds.). Cambridge University PressCarpenter, Kenneth and Currie, Philip J. (eds.). Cambridge University Press, 282-298.
Vickaryous, M.K., Maryanska, T. & Weishampel, D.B. 2004. Ankylosauria. In: The Dinosauria, ed. D.B. Weishampel, P. Dodson & H. Osmólska.University of California PressBerkeley, D.B. Weishampel, P. Dodson & H. Osmólska. Ed. University of California Press363-392.
- Sternberg, C. M. 1921. A supplementary study of Panoplosaurus mirus. Transations of the Royal Society of Canada (series 3),15, 93-102.
Coombs Jr, W. P. 1978. The families of the Ornitischian dinosaur order Ankylosauria. Palaeontology, 21, 1,143-170.
Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 159. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
Bakker, R. 1988. Review of the Late Cretaceous nodosaurid Dinosauria Denversaurus schlessmani, a new armor-plated dinosaur form the latest Cretaceous of South Dakota, the last survivor of the nodosaurians, with comments on stegosaur-nodosaur relationships. Hunteria, 1, 1-23.
Ryan, M. J. & Evans, D. C. 2005. Ornithischian Dinosaurs. In: Dinosaur Provincial Park. A spectacular ancient ecosystem revealed, Currie, P. J. & Koppelhus, E. B. (ed.) Indiana University Press. Bloomignton and Indianapolis. 312-348.

Fun Facts

The name Panoplosaurus comes from the Greek words meaning "fully armored lizard".
Panoplosaurus was a plant-eating animal.
He walked on all fours.
Panoplosaurus was a heavily armored dinosaur that protected itself from predators.