**Animantarx: An Ancient Armored Dinosaur**
Animantarx is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Early and Late Cretaceous period, around 104 to 98 million years ago. This dinosaur was found in western North America and belonged to a group called nodosaurs, known for their heavy armor.
**What Did Animantarx Look Like?**
Animantarx was a herbivore, which means it ate plants. It was slow-moving and walked on four legs. Unlike some of its relatives, it didn’t have a tail club for fighting off predators. It had a large skull that was about 25 centimeters long, and the entire dinosaur was probably around 3 meters, or 10 feet, long.
The name “Animantarx” comes from Latin words meaning “living fortress.” This name highlights its strong armor. The type species, or the main category, of Animantarx is called **A. ramaljonesi**, named after its discoverer, Ramal Jones.
**Discovery of Animantarx**
The first and only specimen of Animantarx was discovered when researchers noticed higher levels of radioactivity in the area. This led them to dig and find the dinosaur’s remains. The fossils include parts of its skull, jaw, spine, and limbs.
**Where Did Animantarx Live?**
The fossils of Animantarx were discovered in a region called the Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation in Utah. During the time of Animantarx, this area was likely a floodplain, filled with rivers and lakes, which supported a variety of life including fish and frogs.
**An Interesting Family History**
Animantarx is classified under a big family called Nodosauridae, which contains many other armored dinosaurs. Scientists are still figuring out exactly where Animantarx fits within this family tree, but it is closely related to another dinosaur named Edmontonia.
In summary, Animantarx was a unique herbivorous dinosaur with a strong armored body that lived millions of years ago in North America. The discovery of its fossils has helped scientists learn more about the different species that existed during that time.