Lurdusaurus was a genus of large ornithopod dinosaurs that lived in the Early Cretaceous apterous stage. It roamed what is now the western Sahara Desert sometime between 121 and 112 million years ago. It was discovered by Philippe Taquet in rock layers of the Elrhaz Formation in the T\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9 Desert of Niger in 1965. In 1999, it was described and named Lurdusaurus arenatus by Taquet and Dale Russell. The name means \"heavy lizard\", derived from the Latin lurdus, \"heavy\" and arenatus means \"sandy\" in reference to the T\u00e9n\u00e9r\u00e9 desert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lurdusaurus was related to Iguanodon, but heavy compared to it. Its hands had an enlarged thumb claw that offered some protection against crocodiles in the water. Its forelimbs and hind limbs were proportionately short and powerfully built, showing that Lurdusaurus moved slowly. The foot was unusually constructed, as the foot bones lacked solid contact with each other, suggesting the presence of a fleshy pad that supported most of the weight. The neck was long and elongated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lurdusaurus was herbivorous and lived alongside the long-necked Nigersaurus and sail-backed Ouranosaurus, as well as carnivorous Abelisaurus, Spinosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus. It lived around the rivers of an ancient tropical forest. As it can move both on land and in water, it can dive into water, or flee aquatics by climbing onto land to escape predators. It can also use its spikes on its legs or its powerful stomp to defend itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This enormous animal was 8 meters long and weighed more than five tons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n