Scolosaurus Facts
Pronunciation: SKOH-loh-SORE-us
Name meaning: Thorn Lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 1.5m |
| Length | 5.6m |
| Weight | 2.2 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Ankylosaur |
| Location | Canada |
Scolosaurus was a heavily armoured ankylosaur that roamed the coastal plains of what is now Alberta, Canada, during the Late Cretaceous period around 83.6 million years ago. This formidable herbivore measured up to 5.6 metres in length and weighed approximately 2.2 tonnes, making it a substantial member of the ankylosaur family.
Like other ankylosaurs, Scolosaurus was built like a living tank, with its body covered in thick, bony plates called osteoderms that provided excellent protection from predators. Its low-slung body was supported by four sturdy legs, and its broad skull featured a beak-like mouth perfect for cropping vegetation. The dinosaur's back and sides were adorned with rows of spikes and knobs, giving it the fearsome appearance that earned it the name 'thorn lizard'.
Scolosaurus lived in the lush, subtropical environment of Late Cretaceous Alberta, where it shared its habitat with other dinosaurs including tyrannosaurs, hadrosaurs, and ceratopsians. As a herbivore, it would have spent much of its time browsing on low-growing plants, ferns, and cycads, using its small teeth to process tough vegetation.
Two species of Scolosaurus are currently recognised: S. cutleri (the type species) and S. thronus, both known from fossils found in the Dinosaur Park Formation and upper levels of the Oldman Formation in Alberta.
What made Scolosaurus distinctive?
Scolosaurus was distinguished by its heavily armoured body covered in bony plates and spikes, giving it a particularly thorny appearance. Its broad, flat skull featured a beak-like snout, whilst rows of defensive spikes and knobs ran along its back and sides.
Behaviour
Scolosaurus likely lived as a slow-moving browser, using its low position to feed on ground-level vegetation. When threatened by predators like Albertosaurus, it probably relied on its heavy armour for protection, possibly crouching down to protect its vulnerable belly whilst presenting its spiky, armoured back to attackers.
Discovery
Scolosaurus was first described by Lawrence Lambe in 1928. The original fossils were discovered at Dinosaur Park Formation and Oldman Formation, Alberta, Canada.
Scolosaurus FAQ
What did Scolosaurus eat?
Scolosaurus was a herbivore that fed on low-growing plants, ferns, and cycads. It used its beak-like mouth to crop vegetation and its small teeth to process tough plant material. As a ground-level browser, it would have spent much of its time searching for suitable plants in the subtropical forests of
Late Cretaceous Alberta.
How big was Scolosaurus?
Scolosaurus cutleri measured up to 5.6 metres in length, stood approximately 1.5 metres tall at the hip, and weighed around 2.2 tonnes. This made it a medium-sized ankylosaur, smaller than giants like
Ankylosaurus but still a formidable, heavily built dinosaur.
When did Scolosaurus live?
Scolosaurus lived during the
Late Cretaceous period, approximately 83.6 million years ago. This places it in the Campanian age, when much of what is now Alberta was a warm, subtropical coastal plain dotted with rivers and forests.
Where was Scolosaurus found?
Scolosaurus fossils have been discovered in Alberta, Canada, specifically in the Dinosaur Park Formation and the upper levels of the Oldman Formation. These fossil-rich rock formations in the Canadian badlands have yielded some of the world's most important dinosaur discoveries.
How do you pronounce Scolosaurus?
Scolosaurus is pronounced 'SKOH-loh-SORE-us'. The name breaks down into three syllables, with emphasis typically placed on the first syllable 'SKOH'.
What does Scolosaurus mean?
Scolosaurus means 'thorn lizard' in Greek. The name refers to the impressive array of spikes, knobs, and thorny projections that covered this ankylosaur's heavily armoured body, giving it a particularly fearsome appearance.
How fast could Scolosaurus run?
The speed of Scolosaurus is unknown, but like other ankylosaurs, it was likely quite slow-moving due to its heavy armour and robust build. Its short, sturdy legs were built for supporting weight rather than speed, and it probably relied on its defensive armour rather than running to escape predators.
What type of dinosaur was Scolosaurus?
Scolosaurus was an ankylosaur, a group of heavily armoured, herbivorous dinosaurs. More specifically, it belonged to the family Ankylosauridae and was part of the bird-hipped dinosaur group called Ornithischia.
Was Scolosaurus related to birds?
No, Scolosaurus was not closely related to birds. Although it belonged to Ornithischia (the 'bird-hipped' dinosaurs), this group is not actually related to modern birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, which belonged to the other major dinosaur group, Saurischia.
How many Scolosaurus fossils have been found?
The exact number of Scolosaurus specimens is not well documented, but fossils are known from multiple individuals representing two species: S. cutleri and S. thronus. Like many ankylosaurs, Scolosaurus is primarily known from partial skeletons and isolated armour plates found in Alberta's fossil-rich formations.
