Name:
Acanthopholis (Greek for "spiny scales"); pronounced ah-can-THOFF-oh-liss
Habitat:
Woodlands of western Europe
Historical Period:
Middle Cretaceous (110-100 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 13 feet long and 800 pounds
Diet:
Plants
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Thick, oval-shaped armor; pointed beak
About Acanthopholis:
Acanthopholis is a typical example of a nodosaur, a family of ankylosaurs characterized by their low-slung profiles and tough coats of armor (in the case of Acanthopholis, formed from oval structures called "scutes.") Where its turtle-like shell stopped, this herbivore sprouted dangerous spikes from its neck, shoulder and tail, which protected it (presumably) from bigger Cretaceous carnivores that tried to turn it into lunch.
