Zhongyuansaurus Facts
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 1.5m |
| Length | 4m |
| Weight | 2 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Ankylosaur |
| Location | China |

| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 1.5m |
| Length | 4m |
| Weight | 2 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Ankylosaur |
| Location | China |
Zhongyuansaurus was a heavily armoured ankylosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 121.4 million years ago, in what is now central China. Named after the Central Plains region of China where it was discovered, this prehistoric herbivore represents one of the earlier examples of the heavily armoured dinosaurs that would become so successful throughout the Cretaceous period.
Like other ankylosaurs, Zhongyuansaurus was built like a living tank. It measured approximately 4 metres in length and stood about 1.5 metres high at the hip, with a low-slung, wide body covered in bony plates and spikes. Its back and sides were protected by rows of osteoderms—thick, bony plates embedded in the skin—that would have made it extremely difficult for predators to attack successfully.
As a herbivore, Zhongyuansaurus fed on low-growing plants, ferns, and early flowering plants that were becoming more common during the Early Cretaceous. Its small head housed a beak-like mouth perfect for cropping vegetation, whilst rows of small teeth helped process tough plant material. The dinosaur's wide body housed an enormous gut necessary for digesting large quantities of plant matter.
Currently, two species of Zhongyuansaurus are recognised: Z. luoyangensis, discovered in 2007, and Z. junchangi, named as recently as 2025. Some scientists suggest that Zhongyuansaurus may actually be the same genus as the similar Gobisaurus, though this remains a topic of ongoing scientific debate.
Zhongyuansaurus was characterised by its heavily armoured body covered in rows of bony plates and spikes along its back and sides. Its wide, low-built frame and relatively small head were typical ankylosaur features, designed for both protection and efficient plant processing.
Zhongyuansaurus likely spent most of its time moving slowly through Early Cretaceous forests and plains, using its beak to crop low-growing vegetation. When threatened by predators, it probably crouched down to protect its unarmoured belly, presenting only its heavily armoured back and sides to attackers.
Zhongyuansaurus was first described by Xu Xing and colleagues in 2007. The original fossils were discovered at Haoling Formation, Henan Province, China.