Gargoyleosaurus
Gargoyleosaurus ("gargoyle lizard") was an armoured ankylosaur which walked on four legs and had a stiff tail. It had a series of spikes running along each side of its body. Gargoyleosaurus was about 10 feet (3 m) long and was roughly 3.3 feet (1 m) tall to the top of the shoulder it may have weighed about a ton.
| Gargoyleosaurus Temporal range: Upper Jurassic
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| Fossil skeleton of Gargoyleosaurus parkpinorum at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science | |
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| Genus: | Gargoyleosaurus
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Gargoyleosaurus is found in the of the Morrison Formation (latest Upper Jurassic) in Wyoming. It lived about 155–144 million years ago.
Description
This dinosaur had a long, narrow beak with teeth on both the upper and lower inner surface (most other ankylosaurs have teeth on only the lower beak). This plant-eater had protective body armour on the upper surface of its body and tail (hollow bony oval plates).
Gargoyleosaurus Media
Size comparison of Gargoyleosaurus. Based on skull and skeletal diagrams by Carpenter. Human silhouette from Silhouette of man standing and facing forward.svg.
Gargoyleosaurus parkpinorum (DMNH 27726) Skull and cervical armor in side and front view. Insert shows a cheek tooth. The skull is slightly crushed changing the shape of the orbit.
