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edmontonia: herbivore dinosaur from the Cretaceous era

Edmontonia Facts

Pronunciation: ed-mon-TONE-ee-ah

Name meaning: Of Edmonton

Diet	Herbivore
Height	1.5m
Length	6.6m
Weight	3 tonnes
Speed	5 km/h
Environment	Land
Era	Cretaceous
Period	Late Cretaceous
Type	Ankylosaur
Location	North America

Edmontonia was a heavily armoured ankylosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, between 83.6 and 72.2 million years ago. This impressive herbivore roamed the ancient landscapes of what is now western North America, particularly in areas that would become Alberta, Canada, and Montana, USA.

Measuring up to 6.6 metres in length and standing about 1.5 metres tall at the hip, Edmontonia was one of the largest members of its group. Weighing approximately 3 tonnes, this ankylosaur was built like a living tank, with its entire back covered in thick, bony plates called osteoderms. Unlike some of its relatives, Edmontonia lacked a club tail, instead relying on its formidable armour and prominent shoulder spikes for protection.

As a herbivore, Edmontonia used its small, leaf-shaped teeth to process tough plant material including ferns, cycads, and early flowering plants. Its low-slung body and wide stance allowed it to browse on vegetation close to the ground, whilst its powerful jaw muscles helped it chew through fibrous plant matter.

The discovery of multiple Edmontonia specimens has provided palaeontologists with detailed insights into ankylosaur anatomy and behaviour, making it one of the better-understood armoured dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period.

What made Edmontonia distinctive?

Edmontonia was distinguished by its extensive body armour consisting of rows of oval and rectangular bony plates, prominent forward-pointing shoulder spikes, and a relatively narrow skull. Unlike club-tailed ankylosaurs, it had a long, tapering tail without a bony club at the end.

Behaviour

Edmontonia likely lived a slow-paced lifestyle, using its keen sense of smell to locate suitable vegetation whilst remaining alert for predators. When threatened, it probably crouched down to protect its soft underbelly, presenting only its armoured back and dangerous shoulder spikes to attackers.

Fun Facts About Edmontonia

Edmontonia's shoulder spikes could grow up to 30 centimetres long and were likely used both for defence and possibly in battles with other members of its own species
Some Edmontonia fossils show evidence of bite marks from large theropod dinosaurs, suggesting these armoured giants didn't always escape predator attacks
Edmontonia had a relatively small brain compared to its body size, with most of its skull filled by powerful jaw muscles for processing tough plant material
The armour plates on Edmontonia's back were not solid bone but contained a honeycomb-like internal structure that made them lighter whilst maintaining strength
Edmontonia's feet had small hooves rather than claws, helping to distribute its considerable weight as it walked across soft ground

Edmontonia in Popular Culture

Edmontonia has appeared in several documentaries about prehistoric life and features in some dinosaur-themed video games, though it's less well-known in popular culture than club-tailed ankylosaurs.

Scientific Classification

Phylum	Chordata
Class	Ornithischia
Family	Nodosauridae
Genus	Edmontonia

Discovery

Edmontonia was first described by Charles M. Sternberg in 1928. The original fossils were discovered at Horseshoe Canyon Formation, Alberta, Canada.

Edmontonia FAQ

What did Edmontonia eat?

Edmontonia was a herbivore that fed on low-growing plants including ferns, cycads, and early flowering plants. It used its small, leaf-shaped teeth to crop vegetation and powerful jaw muscles to process tough, fibrous plant material.

How big was Edmontonia?

Edmontonia measured up to 6.6 metres in length, stood about 1.5 metres tall at the hip, and weighed approximately 3 tonnes. This made it one of the larger armoured dinosaurs of its time.

When did Edmontonia live?

Edmontonia lived during the Late Cretaceous period, between 83.6 and 72.2 million years ago. This was towards the end of the age of dinosaurs, roughly 10-15 million years before the mass extinction event.

Where was Edmontonia found?

Edmontonia fossils have been discovered in western North America, particularly in Alberta, Canada, and Montana, USA. The first specimens were found in the Horseshoe Canyon Formation in Alberta.

How do you pronounce Edmontonia?

Edmontonia is pronounced 'ed-mon-TONE-ee-ah', with the emphasis on the third syllable. The name comes from the Edmonton Formation where it was first discovered.

What does Edmontonia mean?

Edmontonia means 'of Edmonton', referring to the Edmonton Formation in Alberta, Canada, where the first fossils of this dinosaur were discovered in 1928.

How fast could Edmontonia run?

Edmontonia was a slow-moving dinosaur, likely capable of speeds up to about 5 km/h. Its heavy armour and quadrupedal build were designed for protection rather than speed.

What type of dinosaur was Edmontonia?

Edmontonia was an ankylosaur, specifically a member of the nodosaurid family. These were heavily armoured, herbivorous dinosaurs that walked on four legs and were covered in bony plates and spikes.

Was Edmontonia related to birds?

Edmontonia was not closely related to birds. As an ornithischian dinosaur, it belonged to the 'bird-hipped' group, but this refers only to hip structure. Birds actually evolved from theropod dinosaurs in the saurischian group.

How many Edmontonia fossils have been found?

Several Edmontonia specimens have been discovered since 1928, including some relatively complete skeletons. These finds have made it one of the better-known nodosaurid ankylosaurs, though exact numbers of specimens aren't precisely documented.