Scolosaurus is an extinct dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 76 to 74 million years ago. This dinosaur was part of a group known as ankylosaurs, which were known for their bony armor and club-like tails.
Scolosaurus was discovered in Alberta, Canada. The type species, called Scolosaurus cutleri, could grow as long as 5.6 meters, or about 18 feet, and weighed around 2.2 metric tons, which is roughly the weight of a car.
The name Scolosaurus means “pointed stake lizard” in Greek. This name refers to the dinosaur’s unique features, including long squamosal horns on its head. These horns were different from other similar dinosaurs, which helped paleontologists understand more about its place in the ankylosaur family.
Scolosaurus was first named in 1928 by a scientist named Franz Nopcsa. The discovery was based on a nearly complete skeleton that included most of the dinosaur’s bones. This skeleton was found by fossil hunter William Cutler, who had a near accident while excavating it when it fell on him!
Over the years, some scientists debated whether Scolosaurus and another dinosaur named Oohkotokia were actually the same. Recent studies suggest that they might be very similar or even the same species.
Scolosaurus lived in an environment that likely had seasonal changes, meaning it experienced both wet and dry conditions. It shared its habitat with many other dinosaurs, including duck-billed hadrosaurs and other ankylosaurs like Edmontonia. The area was rich in plant and animal life, especially near rivers and wetlands.
The fossils of Scolosaurus contribute valuable information about life in the Late Cretaceous period, showcasing how dinosaurs thrived in different climates and environments.