Ankylosaurus magniventris for Kids Ages 6-8

Ankylosaurus magniventris

I am Ankylosaurus magniventris, an armored dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Period. I was a plant-eater with bony plates on my back and a heavy club on my tail to protect me from predators like Tyrannosaurus rex. My fossils were discovered in Montana in 1906 by Barnum Brown, and today they teach people in museums about life millions of years ago.

Existed c. 1970

Holotype Discovered 1906

Named 1908

The Story of the Armored Giant

Hello! My name is Ankylosaurus magniventris. It’s a big name, but it fits me perfectly. It means ‘fused lizard’ with a ‘great belly.’ That’s because I was very wide, and my back was covered in special armor. This armor was made of bony plates called osteoderms that kept me safe, just like a shield. I walked around on four short, strong legs, which helped carry my heavy body. But the coolest part about me was my tail. At the very end, I had a big, heavy club made of bone. It was my best defense. I lived a very, very long time ago, during a time on Earth called the Late Cretaceous Period. It was a world full of giant plants and amazing dinosaurs just like me.

My home was a warm, green world that you now call North America. There were tall trees and lots of yummy plants everywhere. I was a plant-eater, which is called an herbivore. My favorite meals were tasty ferns and other plants that grew close to the ground. I spent most of my day munching away. But I always had to be careful, because there were big predators around, like the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex. I couldn't run very fast on my short legs, so I had a special way to protect myself. If a predator came near, I would crouch down low to the ground to protect my soft belly. Then, I would swing my heavy tail club back and forth. Swish, swoosh. It was very powerful and helped keep me safe from danger. I was like a walking tank from long ago.

For millions of years, my story was hidden deep in the ground. No one knew I ever existed. But then, one day in the year 1906, a fossil hunter named Barnum Brown was exploring in a place called Montana. He found my bones. It was a very exciting discovery. He carefully dug them up and studied them. Two years later, in 1908, Barnum Brown told the whole world about me. He was the one who gave me my special scientific name, Ankylosaurus magniventris. That was the first time people learned about the amazing armored dinosaur with a club on its tail.

I lived during the Late Cretaceous Period. All of the dinosaurs, including me, disappeared from the world about 66 million years ago. But my story isn't over. Today, you can visit museums and see my giant fossils. I help teach everyone about the incredible creatures that once roamed our planet. My bones show just how cool it was to be a dinosaur with its own built-in armor and a powerful club for a tail.