Science

Ankylosaurs Used Their Tail Clubs Not Just Against T. Rex!

Ankylosaurs :

Among big teeth, claws, spikes, and colossal mass, the tail club was one of the deadliest weapons of the dinosaurs that ruled the earth millions of years ago.

Evolution had gifted armored dinosaurs like Ankylosaurs with nature’s sledgehammer, a bony mass at the end of the tail that had the power to break the bone of a T. rex.

Since the fossil of Ankylosaurs was first discovered in the 1900s, it was believed that the tail club was only used by the Ankylosaurs to defend themselves from predators.

However, the new fossil findings by a group of scientists suggest that it wasn’t only to deter the predators but also to challenge themselves for dominance and mating rights.

These dinosaurs were built like tanks covered in hard bony plates with a rockhard club at the end of their (Ankylosaurs) tail.


More for you:

> Homo Naledi Used Fires Underground 236,000 Years Ago…?
> Clam Resurrected from Extinction…!
> Search For Aliens; NASA Sets Up a New Squad


Initially, paleontologists believed that the tail club was only used to defend themselves from predators like T. rex due to the lack of strong supportive evidence.

“This natural sledgehammer has long been considered by both scientists and artists as a defensive weapon against predators,” said paleontologist Victoria Arbour, Royal British Columbia Museum, Canada, in a report.

The team of paleontologists found proof of the tail club’s other uses from a fossil that was excavated in 2017.

The studies revealed the fossilized armored dino (Ankylosaurs) had five broken spikes on its sides clustered in a particular part of the body.

The injuries on the fossil lacked any bite or scratch marks. The research report was published in Biology Letters. It stated that the injuries were consistent with tail clubbing.

These armored dinosaurs’ tail clubs began as tiny clusters at the tip. The matured Ankylosaurs used their tail clubs to spar with each other for territory, food, and mating rights just like today’s herbivores.

“Ankylosaurs are often portrayed as stupid, lone dinosaurs. The studies show that they probably had much more complex behaviors than we give them credit for,” Arbour added.

Chetan Raj

I'm a writer, entrepreneur, and traveler obsessed with technology, travel, science, and the world we are living in. I realized the value of 'true knowledge' for the 1st time in my graduation which is one of the many reasons to create this magnificent platform...

Recent Posts

Mysterious Dwarf Planet 2017 OF201 Discovered at Solar System’s Edge – Challenges Planet Nine Theory

A newly identified "dwarf planet candidate", known as "2017 OF201", is stirring excitement and debate… Read More

6 days ago

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has Reintroduced the Fan-favorite Grief Mode in its Season 4 Update…

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has reintroduced the fan-favorite Grief mode in its Season… Read More

2 weeks ago

Tsunami Clues Trapped in Ancient Amber: A 115-Million-Year-Old Mystery

"Tsunami" records usually vanish with time — their traces swept away by nature’s erosion. But… Read More

3 weeks ago

Vaping: A New Hope for Teens Trying to Quit

In a promising breakthrough for teen health, a recent clinical trial has spotlighted a powerful… Read More

1 month ago

Samsung Might Launch Its First Tri-Fold Smartphone Soon: Here’s What to Expect

Samsung is reportedly gearing up to revolutionize the foldable smartphone market once again, this time… Read More

1 month ago

Hidden Antarctic Lakes: The Subglacial Threat to Global Sea Levels

Deep beneath Antarctica’s frozen surface lies a hidden hydrological network that could reshape our understanding… Read More

2 months ago