Edmontonia

dinosaur · armored · Late Cretaceous

Super armored body. Edmontonia belonged to a group called nodosaurs, which were dinosaurs covered in thick bone plates and spikes for protection. This armor helped keep it safe from meat-eating dinosaurs.

Western North American resident. This dinosaur lived in what is now western North America during the Late Cretaceous Period, which was about 80 to 66 million years ago. Scientists found its fossils in the Edmonton Formation, which is where it got its name.

Four-legged plant eater. Edmontonia walked on four sturdy legs and ate plants like ferns and low-growing shrubs. Its body was built low to the ground, making it stable and strong.

Built for defense. Along with its bony plating, Edmontonia had spikes running down its back and sides. These spikes pointed outward to make it look even bigger and scarier to predators trying to attack it.