Tarchia

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Quick Facts
Name	Tarchia
Diet	Herbivore
Weight	4500 kilos
Length	8.5 meters
Height	3 meters
Period	Late Cretaceous

Tarchia was a genus of herbivorous ankylosaurid dinosaurs that lived in the Cretaceous period. The name means "brain," a brain size presumed to be larger than that of the related form Saichania.

Tarchia was one of the longest ankylosaurs, with an estimated body length of 8 meters. It had a wide, low body, standing on strong, short legs. Ossifications of the skin, called osteoderms, protected the body. In addition, the bony tail club served as an active defense against predators. It was known for a complete skull and a partial skeleton. It had a massive skull with a large brain. It had large spine-like plates on the top and bottom. Its large, gnarled armor plates covered the skull. The beak was broad and rounded. It was a herbivore with teeth that resembled those of most other ankylosaurs.

The armor was thin-walled and similar to the plates of most ankylosaurs. It lived in a dry environment with other dinosaurs at the same time and in the same place included Tyrannosaurus, Gallimimimus and Saurolophus.

Tarchia reached 8 meters long and 2.5 tons.

What did Tarchia eat?

Tarchia was a genus of ankylosaurian herbivorous dinosaur, meaning that it ate plants.

When did Tarchia live?

Tarchia was a genus of herbivorous ankylosaurid dinosaurs that lived in the Cretaceous period around 83.5 million years ago - 66 million years ago.

What does the name Tarchia mean?

The name tarcia means "brain," a brain size presumed to be larger than that of the related form Saichania.

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

Maryanska, T. 1977. "Ankylosauridae (Dinosauria) from Mongolia,". Palaeontologia Polonica 37:85-151.
Tumanova, T. A. 1978. "New data on the ankylosaur Tarchia gigantea," Paleontological Journal 11: 480-486.
Carpenter, K., Kirkland, J. I., Birge, D., and Bird, J. 2001. "Disarticulated skull of a new primitive anklyosaurid from the Lower Cretaceous of Utah", in Carpenter, K. (editor) 2001, The Armored Dinosaurs. Indiana University Press.
Barret, P. M. 2001. "Tooth wear and possible jaw action in Scelidosaurus harrisonii and a review of feeding mechanisms in other thyreophoran dinoaurs", in Carpenter, K. (ed.) The Armored Dinosaurs. Indiana University Press, Bloomington. pp.25-52.
Vickaryous, Maryanska, and Weishampel 2004. "Chapter Seventeen: Ankylosauria", in The Dinosauria (2nd edition), Weishampel, D. B., Dodson, P., and Osmólska, H., editors. University of California Press

Fun Facts

The name Tarcia means "brain".
Tarchia was a genus of herbivorous ankylosaurid dinosaurs.
Tarchia was one of the longest ankylosaurs.
The beak was broad and rounded.
He lived in a dry environment.