Acantholipan Facts
Pronunciation: ah-can-tho-LIE-pan
Name meaning: Spiny Fat Face
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 1.5m |
| Length | 4m |
| Weight | 2 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Ankylosaur |
| Location | Mexico |
Acantholipan was a heavily armoured ankylosaur that lived in what is now Mexico during the early Santonian age of the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 83.6 million years ago. This remarkable herbivorous dinosaur represents one of the most complete ankylosaur discoveries from Mexico, providing valuable insights into the diversity of armoured dinosaurs in ancient North America.
Measuring around 4 metres in length and standing about 1.5 metres tall at the hip, Acantholipan was a medium-sized ankylosaur with a distinctive array of defensive features. Its most striking characteristic was the elaborate arrangement of spikes and bony plates that covered its back and sides, giving it excellent protection against predators. The dinosaur's name, meaning 'spiny fat face', refers to the prominent spikes that adorned its skull and the robust build typical of ankylosaurs.
As a herbivore, Acantholipan spent its days browsing on low-growing plants, ferns, and cycads that flourished in the warm, humid climate of Late Cretaceous Mexico. Its broad, low-slung body was perfectly adapted for reaching vegetation close to the ground, whilst its powerful jaw muscles and small, leaf-shaped teeth were ideal for processing tough plant material.
The discovery of Acantholipan has helped palaeontologists better understand the evolution and distribution of ankylosaurs across ancient North America, demonstrating that these armoured giants were more diverse and widespread than previously thought.
What made Acantholipan distinctive?
Acantholipan was distinguished by its elaborate array of defensive spikes and bony plates covering its back and sides, with particularly prominent spikes adorning its skull. Its robust, low-slung body was typical of ankylosaurs, but the specific arrangement of its armour plating was unique to this species.
Behaviour
Acantholipan likely lived in small groups, spending most of its time browsing on low vegetation with its head close to the ground. When threatened by predators, it would have relied on its impressive armour and spikes for protection, possibly crouching down to present an impenetrable shield of bony plates to attackers.
Discovery
Acantholipan was first described by Rivera-Sylva et al. in 2018. The original fossils were discovered at Cerro del Pueblo Formation, Coahuila, Mexico.
Acantholipan FAQ
What did Acantholipan eat?
Acantholipan was a herbivore that fed on low-growing plants, ferns, cycads, and other vegetation. Its small, leaf-shaped teeth and powerful jaw muscles were perfectly adapted for processing tough plant material close to the ground.
How big was Acantholipan?
Acantholipan measured approximately 4 metres in length and stood about 1.5 metres tall at the hip. It weighed roughly 2 tonnes, making it a medium-sized member of the ankylosaur group.
When did Acantholipan live?
Acantholipan lived during the early Santonian age of the
Late Cretaceous period, approximately 83.6 million years ago. This was towards the end of the age of dinosaurs, when armoured dinosaurs were particularly diverse.
Where was Acantholipan found?
Acantholipan fossils were discovered in Mexico, specifically in the Cerro del Pueblo Formation in Coahuila. This area was once a warm, humid region with rivers and lakes during the
Late Cretaceous period.
How do you pronounce Acantholipan?
Acantholipan is pronounced 'ah-can-tho-LIE-pan'. The name comes from Greek words meaning 'spiny fat face', referring to the prominent spikes on its skull and its robust build.
What does Acantholipan mean?
The name Acantholipan means 'spiny fat face' in Greek. This refers to the distinctive spikes that adorned its skull and the robust, heavily-built appearance typical of ankylosaurs.
How fast could Acantholipan run?
Acantholipan's speed is unknown, but like other ankylosaurs, it was likely quite slow-moving due to its heavy armour and quadrupedal build. It relied on its defensive spikes and plates rather than speed to avoid predators.
What type of dinosaur was Acantholipan?
Acantholipan was an ankylosaur, specifically a member of the nodosauridae family. Ankylosaurs were heavily armoured, herbivorous dinosaurs known for their distinctive bony plates and spikes.
Was Acantholipan related to birds?
No, Acantholipan was not closely related to birds. As an ankylosaur, it belonged to the ornithischian dinosaurs, whilst birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs in the saurischian group. However, all dinosaurs share a common ancestor.
How many Acantholipan fossils have been found?
Acantholipan is known from one particularly well-preserved and relatively complete skeleton discovered in Mexico. This specimen has provided scientists with detailed information about the anatomy and appearance of this armoured dinosaur.
