Pinacosaurus

dinosaur · armored · Late Cretaceous · Mongolia

Armored Tank Dino. Pinacosaurus was an ankylosaurid, a group of dinosaurs covered in thick plates and spikes that made them look like walking tanks. These armor-plated dinosaurs could weigh as much as an elephant.

Weird Shaped Head. This dinosaur had a thick, bony head that looked different from other ankylosaurs. Scientists think this unusual dome-shaped skull might have been used to recognize other Pinacosaurus or to show off to potential mates.

Desert Dweller. Pinacosaurus lived in Mongolia and China during the Late Cretaceous period, about 80 to 75 million years ago. It roamed across dry, rocky landscapes in a time when the Earth was much hotter than today.

Found in Fossils. The first Pinacosaurus fossils were discovered in 1923 and scientifically named in 1933. Since then, paleontologists have found multiple species and learned more about how these creatures lived and evolved.

Ancient Relative Changed. Scientists originally thought one dinosaur species belonged in the Pinacosaurus family, but later they moved it to its own genus called Eopinacosaurus. This happens when scientists learn more and reclassify ancient creatures.