Hylaeosaurus

dinosaur · armored · herbivore · early cretaceous

Armored tank dinosaur. Hylaeosaurus was a type of dinosaur called an ankylosaur, which means it had thick body armor made of bony plates and spikes all over its skin to protect itself from predators.

Ate only plants. Despite being covered in spikes and armor, Hylaeosaurus was completely harmless to other dinosaurs because it only ate plants and ferns from the ground and bushes.

Lived in England. This dinosaur walked around in what is now southern England during the early Cretaceous period, about 136 million years ago, when that area was warmer and covered with lush plants.

Found in clay. Scientists discovered Hylaeosaurus fossils in rock layers called the Grinstead Clay, which preserves the remains of ancient creatures from millions of years ago.

Size and defense. Hylaeosaurus was a medium-sized dinosaur with its armor and spikes serving as its main defense against the meat-eating dinosaurs that lived at the same time.