Tarchia

dinosaur · Mongolia · armored

Covered in armor. Tarchia was an ankylosaurus, which means it had a thick hide covered in bony plates called osteoderms. These plates protected it like the best armor suit ever made, keeping this dinosaur safe from predators.

Heavy and strong. This dinosaur was about 26 feet long and weighed as much as an elephant. Its short, sturdy legs held up its massive body as it walked slowly across the plains of ancient Mongolia.

Plant-eating machine. Tarchia only ate plants and used its wide, flat mouth to chomp on ferns and shrubs. It didn't need teeth for hunting because it was a gentle herbivore that focused on finding good meals.

Tail like a club. The end of Tarchia's tail had a large bony club that could swing as a weapon to defend itself. Scientists think it could use this club like a bat to protect itself if a meat-eating dinosaur got too close.

Cretaceous survivor. Tarchia lived during the late Cretaceous period, millions of years before the last dinosaurs went extinct. It thrived in the desert and semi-arid environments of what is now Mongolia.