Polacanthus

Polacanthus

po-la-KAN-thus 🔊 Say it name means “Many spines”

This spiky armored tank is one of dinosaur history's greatest mysteries — no one knows exactly where all its spines go!

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Bony Skin

This skin impression and bony nodule came from Polacanthus. The bony nodules "floated" in the skin beneath the dinosaur's scales, just like they do in modern reptiles. This armored skin, in combination with its sharp spines, would have discouraged hungry meat-eaters from attacking Polacanthus.

Crocodile hide?Polacanthus had skin similar to that of modern crocodiles. Both Polacanthus and the crocodile are reptiles adapted to conditions on dry land.

Solitary noduleBony nodes like this one were mixed in with the overlapping plates on Polacanthus's skin.

Packing a Weapon

Unlike some ankylosaurs such as Euoplocephalus, Polacanthus's tail was spiked and whip-like, but did not end in a bony club. The spikes, however, were probably a powerful defense against attack.

Armed and dangerousThe bony club on Euoplocephalus's tail may have been an effective weapon against predators that viewed this armored dinosaur as a tasty meal.

Fern Feeder

Although they looked intimidating, ankylosaurs were not hunters. They had small rounded teeth that were only good for eating soft plants.

Ancient landscapeFerns like these were common while Polacanthus was alive. They would have been an important part of this dinosaur's diet.

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Source: Microsoft Dinosaurs (1993) CD-ROM. Text liberated from original screen art; images & audio restored from disc. Original media is Microsoft/supplier copyright — non-commercial educational preservation. Credits & Acknowledgements →