Borealopelta Facts
Pronunciation: bore-ee-AL-oh-PEL-tah
Name meaning: Northern Shield
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 1.3m |
| Length | 5.5m |
| Weight | 1.3 tonnes |
| Speed | 10 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Ankylosaur |
| Location | Canada |
Borealopelta was a heavily armoured ankylosaur that lived in what is now Alberta, Canada during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 121 million years ago. This impressive herbivorous dinosaur measured about 5.5 metres long and weighed around 1.3 tonnes, making it a formidable sight as it wandered through ancient forests and coastal plains.
What makes Borealopelta truly extraordinary is its exceptional preservation. Discovered in 2011 at an oil sands mine near Fort McMurray, the fossil is so well-preserved that scientists could study not only its bony armour but also the keratin sheaths that covered its spikes, remnants of its skin, and even its stomach contents from its final meal. The specimen has been dubbed the 'Suncor nodosaur' and represents one of the finest dinosaur fossils ever found.
As an ankylosaur, Borealopelta was built like a living tank. Its back and sides were covered in rows of bony plates called osteoderms, with two particularly large spikes jutting forward from its shoulders. Unlike some of its club-tailed relatives, Borealopelta belonged to the nodosaur group, which lacked the distinctive tail club but made up for it with more elaborate shoulder armour.
Analysis of preserved melanosomes (colour-bearing structures) revealed that Borealopelta had reddish-brown skin, likely darker on top and lighter underneath - a camouflage pattern called countershading. This suggests that despite its impressive armour, this ankylosaur still needed to hide from predators, probably large theropods that shared its environment.
What made Borealopelta distinctive?
Borealopelta had two prominent forward-pointing spikes on its shoulders and a heavily armoured back covered in rows of bony plates. Its reddish-brown colouration with countershading made it unique amongst known dinosaurs, and it lacked the tail club typical of other ankylosaurs.
Behaviour
Borealopelta was a slow-moving browser that fed on low-growing plants, using its beak-like mouth to crop vegetation. Despite its formidable armour, it employed countershading camouflage to avoid detection by predators, suggesting it preferred to hide rather than fight when threatened.
Discovery
Borealopelta was first described by Caleb Brown and colleagues in 2017. The original fossils were discovered at Suncor oil sands mine, Alberta, Canada.
Borealopelta FAQ
What did Borealopelta eat?
Borealopelta was a herbivore that fed on low-growing plants including ferns, conifers, and other vegetation. Scientists know this because they found preserved plant material in its stomach, showing it had eaten these plants shortly before it died.
How big was Borealopelta?
Borealopelta was about 5.5 metres long and 1.3 metres tall at the hip, weighing approximately 1.3 tonnes. This made it roughly the size of a large rhinoceros, though much more heavily armoured.
When did Borealopelta live?
Borealopelta lived during the
Early Cretaceous period, approximately 121.4 million years ago. This places it in the Aptian age, when flowering plants were just beginning to diversify.
Where was Borealopelta found?
Borealopelta was discovered at the Suncor oil sands mine north of Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada. The fossil was found in marine rocks, suggesting the dinosaur was washed out to sea after death.
How do you pronounce Borealopelta?
Borealopelta is pronounced 'bore-ee-AL-oh-PEL-tah'. The name comes from Latin and Greek, meaning 'northern shield', referring to both its Canadian discovery location and its heavily armoured body.
What does Borealopelta mean?
Borealopelta means 'northern shield' in Latin and Greek. 'Borealis' refers to the north (like the northern lights or aurora borealis), while 'pelta' means shield, perfectly describing this armoured dinosaur from northern Canada.
How fast could Borealopelta run?
Borealopelta was likely quite slow, probably reaching maximum speeds of around 10 km/h. Its heavy armour and stocky build were designed for protection rather than speed, making it more of a walking tank than a sprinter.
What type of dinosaur was Borealopelta?
Borealopelta was an ankylosaur, specifically a member of the nodosaur family. Unlike club-tailed ankylosaurs, nodosaurs had more elaborate shoulder armour and lacked the distinctive tail weapon, relying instead on spikes and plates for protection.
Was Borealopelta related to birds?
Borealopelta belonged to the ornithischian dinosaurs, which were not directly related to modern birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs in the saurischian group, making Borealopelta only distantly related to birds through their common dinosaurian ancestry.
How many Borealopelta fossils have been found?
Only one specimen of Borealopelta has been discovered - the remarkably well-preserved fossil found at the Suncor mine in 2011. However, this single specimen is so complete and detailed that it has provided extraordinary insights into ankylosaur biology and appearance.
