Nodosaurus Facts
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 1.5m |
| Length | 6m |
| Weight | 3.5 tonnes |
| Speed | 15 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Ankylosaur |
| Location | North America |

| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 1.5m |
| Length | 6m |
| Weight | 3.5 tonnes |
| Speed | 15 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Ankylosaur |
| Location | North America |
Nodosaurus was a heavily armoured ankylosaur that roamed the ancient landscapes of North America during the Late Cretaceous period, between 100.5 and 72.2 million years ago. This remarkable dinosaur lived exclusively in what is now Wyoming, where its fossils have been discovered in the Frontier Formation. As one of the defining members of its family, Nodosaurus represents an excellent example of the incredible defensive adaptations that evolved in ankylosaurs.
Measuring approximately 6 metres in length and standing 1.5 metres tall at the hip, Nodosaurus was a substantial quadrupedal dinosaur that weighed around 3.5 tonnes. Its most distinctive feature was its impressive body armour, consisting of rows of bony plates and knobs embedded in its skin. Unlike some of its ankylosaur relatives, Nodosaurus lacked a heavy tail club, instead relying entirely on its defensive plating and low-slung profile for protection from predators.
As a dedicated herbivore, Nodosaurus possessed a beak-like mouth and small teeth perfectly suited for cropping and processing plant material. It likely fed on low-growing ferns, cycads, and other vegetation that flourished during the warm Cretaceous climate. Its wide body cavity provided ample space for the lengthy digestive system needed to break down tough plant fibres.
The discovery of Nodosaurus in 1889 by renowned palaeontologist Othniel Charles Marsh marked an important milestone in our understanding of armoured dinosaurs, helping to establish the ankylosaur group as a major component of Cretaceous ecosystems.
Nodosaurus was characterised by extensive body armour consisting of rows of bony plates, knobs, and spikes covering its back and sides. Unlike many ankylosaurs, it notably lacked a tail club, instead having a relatively simple, tapering tail.
Nodosaurus was likely a slow-moving browser that spent much of its time grazing on low vegetation. When threatened, it probably crouched down to protect its vulnerable underside, presenting only its heavily armoured back to predators.
Nodosaurus was first described by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1889. The original fossils were discovered at Frontier Formation, Wyoming, USA.