Tianchisaurus is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, about 161 to 153 million years ago. It belongs to a group of dinosaurs called ankylosaurs, which were known for their heavy bodies and armor-like skin.
Tianchisaurus means “heavenly pool lizard.” It is one of the oldest known ankylosaurs and was found in the Toutunhe Formation in China.
Discovery of Tianchisaurus began when scientists found its remains in 1974. The first fossil discovered included parts of the skull, some neck and back bones, and bits of limbs and other bones.
This dinosaur was initially informally named “Jurassosaurus,” inspired by the movie Jurassic Park. However, the name was later changed to Tianchisaurus after discussions among paleontologists. The species name, nedegoapeferima, is a tribute to the actors from the movie Jurassic Park.
Interestingly, while many later ankylosaurs had bony clubs at the ends of their tails to defend themselves, Tianchisaurus likely did not have such a club.
In summary, Tianchisaurus is an ancient dinosaur that gives us insights into the early members of the ankylosaur family.