Tarchia

Name:

Tarchia (Chinese for "brainy"); pronounced TAR-chee-ah

Habitat:

Woodlands of Asia

Historical Period:

Late Cretaceous (75-65 million years ago)

Size and Weight:

About 25 feet long and 2 tons

Diet:

Plants

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Large, armored head; spikes lining back

About Tarchia:

Here's more evidence that paleontologists have a good sense of humor: Tarchia (Chinese for "brainy") earned its name not because it was particularly smart, but because its brain was a tiny smidgen bigger than that of comparable ankylosaurs. However, Tarchia was also bigger than most other ankylosaurs, so its IQ was probably just a bit above that of a fire hydrant.

The ankylosaurs were among the last dinosaurs to succumb to the K/T Extinction 65 million years ago, and when you look at Tarchia, it's easy to see why: this dinosaur was the equivalent of a living air-raid shelter, with massive spikes on its back, a powerful head, and a broad, flat club on its tail. The carnivores of its day probably left it alone, unless they were particularly hungry (or desperate).