| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 1m |
| Length | 3m |
| Weight | 800 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Ankylosaur |
| Location | North America |
Animantarx was a heavily armoured ankylosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 121 million years ago. This impressive herbivore roamed the ancient landscapes of what is now western North America, particularly in the region that would become Utah.
Measuring about 3 metres in length and standing roughly 1 metre tall at the hip, Animantarx was a medium-sized member of the ankylosaur group. Its body was covered in thick, bony armour plates called scutes that provided excellent protection from predators. Unlike some of its ankylosaur relatives, Animantarx lacked a heavy tail club, as it belonged to the nodosaurid family within the broader ankylosaur group.
As a dedicated plant-eater, Animantarx used its small skull and beak-like mouth to crop low-growing vegetation. Its powerful jaw muscles and small teeth were perfectly adapted for processing tough plant material. The dinosaur moved slowly on four sturdy legs, spending most of its time grazing peacefully in Early Cretaceous forests and plains.
The heavy armour that covered Animantarx's back and sides made it a formidable opponent for any predator brave enough to attack. When threatened, this living fortress could simply hunker down and rely on its impressive defensive capabilities to wait out danger.
Animantarx was distinguished by its comprehensive suit of bony armour plates covering its back and sides, combined with a relatively small skull measuring about 25 centimetres in length. Unlike club-tailed ankylosaurs, it had a simpler tail without the characteristic heavy weapon at the end.
Animantarx was likely a peaceful browser that spent most of its time feeding on low-growing plants and ferns. When threatened by predators, it probably crouched down close to the ground, presenting only its heavily armoured back to attackers whilst protecting its vulnerable underside.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Ornithischia |
| Family | Nodosauridae |
| Genus | Animantarx |
Animantarx was first described by Kenneth Carpenter in 1999. The original fossils were discovered at Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, USA.
