Zuul is a fascinating dinosaur that lived around 75 million years ago during the Campanian period. It belonged to a group of armored dinosaurs called ankylosaurids. The first and only species in this genus is known as Zuul crurivastator.
This dinosaur was discovered in Montana, specifically from a place called the Judith River Formation. The exciting thing about the find is that it represents one of the most complete ankylosaur skeletons ever discovered in North America. Researchers found parts of its skull and tail, as well as some preserved skin and armor.
In May 2014, while excavating, workers stumbled upon a well-preserved ankylosaur tail club. The skeleton was mostly intact, lying in an unusual position with its stomach facing up. The specimen was later secured and identified as potentially belonging to a new species. It ended up being named Zuul in 2017, inspired by a character from the movie Ghostbusters.
The name Zuul comes from a mythical creature in the film, as the dinosaur’s head resembled the character. The species name, crurivastator, means “destroyer of shins.” This refers to the idea that ankylosaurs used their club-like tails to defend themselves from predators by striking at their legs.
Zuul is estimated to be about 6 meters (20 feet) long. Its distinctive features include overlapping armor plates on its head and unique shapes of bony structures and spikes, which set it apart from other ankylosaurs.
The skull of Zuul is around 50 centimeters (20 inches) long. It has a wide snout and distinctive horns on the back of its head. It also had a long lower jaw with many teeth that were perfect for munching on plants, as Zuul was a herbivore.
Its tail was particularly interesting, measuring about 2.78 meters (109 inches) long. The back end featured a hard club, which was likely used for defense. The tail structure was rigid, helping to ensure strong impacts when it hit the ground or another animal.
Overall, Zuul is an extraordinary dinosaur. Its well-preserved remains give us invaluable insights into the lives of ankylosaurs and how they defended themselves in a world full of predators.