Acanthopholis is a fascinating dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period about 97 million years ago in what is now England.
This dinosaur belongs to a group called ankylosaurs, which are known for their tough, bony armor. Acanthopholis is specifically part of the Nodosauridae family and is known for its spiny armor, which gave it its name. The name Acanthopholis means “spiny scales.”
There is only one species of Acanthopholis, called Acanthopholis horrida. The term “horrida” means “rough” in Latin, reflecting the dinosaur’s rugged appearance.
The discovery of Acanthopholis started in the mid-1800s when a fossil collector found remains near Folkestone, Kent. These remains included bones and parts of its armor. A scientist named Thomas Henry Huxley recognized their importance and named the dinosaur in 1867.
Over the years, many other names were suggested for Acanthopholis based on different fossil remains. However, recent researchers concluded that these earlier names may not represent distinct species. They believe many were misidentified pieces from other dinosaurs.
Acanthopholis was a quadrupedal dinosaur, which means it walked on all four legs. It was an herbivore, eating plants. Estimates suggest it could grow to be between 9.8 to 18 feet long and weigh around 840 pounds.
The armor of Acanthopholis consisted of oval plates with long spikes on its neck and back, serving as protection against predators.
Overall, Acanthopholis is an important part of dinosaur history and remains a subject of interest for paleontologists. It shows us how dinosaurs adapted to their environments and evolved different forms of protection.