Ankylosaurus

* Evolution 2
* Database
* Evolution

* Evolution 2
* Evolution

***Ankylosaurus*** is a genus of ankylosaurid dinosaur in the *Jurassic World Evolution series*, originating in Late Cretaceous North America.

In *Evolution*, *Ankylosaurus* is first unlocked by the Hammond Foundation through expeditions available on Isla Muerta. In the *Secrets of Dr. Wu* expansion pack, players can fuse the *Ankylosaurus* with *Diplodocus* to create the *Ankylodocus* hybrid.

## History

*Ankylosaurus* was one of the dinosaurs planned for the original Jurassic Park after its initial opening, with InGen having acquired 91% of the *Ankylosaurus* genome by 1993. In 1999, after Masrani Global acquired InGen in the wake of the disastrous San Diego Incident, InGen scientists illegally conducted cloning experiments on Isla Sorna, where they bred *Ankylosaurus* as well as *Spinosaurus*, *Corythosaurus*, and *Ceratosaurus*. These *Ankylosaurus* were later released into the wild and were briefly encountered by the survivors of a plane crash on the island in 2001.

*Ankylosaurus* were later exhibited as an attraction for Jurassic World on Isla Nublar, which opened in 2005, which were notably different in appearance to the original animals cloned on Isla Sorna. In 2015, a group of *Ankylosaurus* were attacked by the rampaging *Indominus rex* which managed to kill one after isolating it from its herd. Three years later, *Ankylosaurus* was one of the eleven species which were planned to be extracted from Isla Nublar in the event of Mount Sibo's volcanic eruption. At least five *Ankylosaurus* were successfully transported to the mainland. One was successfully auctioned off to an Indonesian gentleman, while the others were released into the wilds of northern California along with all the other captured dinosaurs.

Four years after the incident at Lockwood Manor, several *Ankylosaurus* roamed the North American wilderness freely, while others were taken to a sanctuary created by BioSyn.

## Characteristics

The largest species of ankylosaurid dinosaurs in the *Evolution* series – measuring nine meters in length and weighing eight tons - and famed for its clubbed tail and the armor plates that cover its back, *Ankylosaurus* is a heavily armored quadruped that lived lived around 70 million years ago in North America during the Late Cretaceous period. Its name means "*Fused Lizard*". Its large stomach digests up to 60kg of ferns and shrubs every day. *Ankylosaurus* is one of the most well-defended herbivores, thanks to its thick, protective armor and powerful bone-breaking club-like tail (well-known among dinosaur enthusiasts). Its heavily armored back plates and robust build protect it from almost any attack from above from predators such as *Tyrannosaurus* and its club tail offers an effective defense. This is in contrast with its short lifespan and low immunity to diseases.

Its moderate cost and space requirements offset this, making it is less expensive to modify its genes to increase its immunity and lifespan. The base genome of the *Ankylosaurus* bred by InGen for Jurassic World are a dull grayish-brown color.

## Gameplay

### *Evolution*

Available genomes
 Lance Formation | ★★★★★★
 Scollard Formation | ★★★★★★★★

#### Behaviour

Preferring to be enclosed with smaller numbers of dinosaurs, the *Ankylosaurus* is one of the least social herbivores in the game, as it tolerates no more than four individuals of its species. While it can be kept with small carnivores such as *Velociraptor* and *Dilophosaurus*, it will fight with large carnivores or other herbivores if the enclosure gets overcrowded.

#### Skins

* Base Game
* Return to Jurassic Park

 NULL

 JUNGLE

 RAINFOREST

 VIVID

 WETLAND

 WOODLAND

 2001

 2001 A

 2001 B

 2001 C

 2001 D

 2001 E

## Paleontology

The largest armored dinosaur, and namesake of said group, *Ankylosaurus* was first discovered by Barnum Brown between 1906 and 1908, in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana, four years after the famous paleontologist, known as "Mr. Bones", had discovered *Tyrannosaurus*. The first fossils found were a collection of bones including two teeth and a skull fragment, although Brown actually unearthed numerous osteoderms in 1900, but incorrectly attributed them to *Tyrannosaurus*. There was controversy at the time as to whether this was a new genus with so few bones available. Further Ankylosaurus fossils (including a complete skull) as well as the only known club-tail specimen were found in Canada in 1910 by an expedition to the Scollard Formation in Alberta, Canada. Even though a complete skeleton has never been discovered, paleontologists have a very good idea of how this dinosaur looked, by studying its very close relative and predecessor *Euoplocephalus*.

Recognizable by the large club at the end of its tail, *Ankylosaurus* is usually seen as the archetypical ankylosaur, but it had plenty of features unique to itself: It was a massive animal, far larger than any nodosaurid and even the average ankylosaurid. Its armor, like that of other ankylosaurids, was plate-like and lightweight, rather than the spiky, heavyweight defenses nodosaurids displayed. Its massive tail club was similar to that of *Euoplocephalus*, yet with slightly different proportions.

Ankylosaurids, in general, had wide snouts that point to an unselective diet, and *Ankylosaurus* is no exception. Also, its nose was larger than expected and almost moose-like, a possible indicator of a well-developed sense of smell. Behind its eyes, *Ankylosaurus* had two pairs of horns, more well-defined than any of its close relatives.

### Paleoecology

*Ankylosaurus* lived 68 to 66 million years ago in Canada and the western United States in the Hell Creek, which had a floodplain ecosystem with a warm, humid subtropical climate, and preferred to stay close to rivers, forests and wetlands, allowing them to cool off during hotter periods. The fossil record indicates that *Ankylosaurus* favored the uplands of the formations where specimens have been recovered. These regions were subtropical or temperate, with likely monsoonal climate. Other dinosaurs known from that time and place are the tyrannosaurid *Tyrannosaurus*, the ceratopsids *Triceratops* and *Torosaurus*, the pachycephalosaurids *Pachycephalosaurus*, *Stygimoloch*, and *Dracorex*, the hadrosaurid *Edmontosaurus*, and a fellow ankylosaur, the nodosaurid *Denversaurus*. Those were among the last non-avian dinosaurs to have ever lived.

*Ankylosaurus* was a low browsing generalist herbivore, perhaps more likely to eat fruit than earlier ankylosaurids. Niche partitioning ensured it wouldn't have competition issues with other herbivores.

## Behind the scenes

The *Ankylosaurus* was developed using the 3D model that was made for the *Jurassic World* films by Industrial Light & Magic, to create the most authentic depiction of the dinosaur possible. Its inclusion in the game was first revealed in the in-game footage that was revealed at Frontier Expo. It received a Species Profile on February 2, 2018. An exclusive Vivid skin was given to the players who spent at least $35 during the Yogscast Jingle Jam 2018 on Humble Bundle.

For the *Return to Jurassic Park* expansion pack, *Ankylosaurus* was given a makeover with six additional cosmetic skins and a new model that is based on its depiction in *Jurassic Park III*.

## Gallery

VideosSpecies Profile - Ankylosaurus
Images
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *What Killed the Gene Guard Act?*. (February 23, 2018). Dinosaur Protection Group. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
2. ↑ Johnston, Joe. (Director). (2001). *Jurassic Park III* [Film]. Universal Pictures.
3. ↑ Trevorrow, Colin. (Director). (2015). *Jurassic World* [Film]. Universal Pictures.
4. ↑ Bayona, J. A. (Director). (2018). *Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom* [Film]. Universal Pictures.
5. ↑ Trevorrow, Colin. (Director). (2022). *Jurassic World Dominion* [Film]. Universal Pictures.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Brown, Barnum. (1908). "The Ankylosauridae, a new family of armored dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous". *Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History.* 24: 187–201. hdl:2246/1435
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Arbour, V.M.; Mallon, J.C. (2017). "Unusual cranial and postcranial anatomy in the archetypal ankylosaur *Ankylosaurus magniventris*". *FACETS*. **2** (2): 764–794. doi:10.1139/facets-2017-0063
8. ↑ Weishampel, D. B.; Barrett, P. M.; Coria, R. A.; Le Loeuff, J.; Xu X.; Zhao X.; Sahni, A.; Gomani, E. M. P.; Noto, C. R. (2004). "Dinosaur Distribution". In Weishampel, D. B.; Dodson, P.; Osmolska, H.. (eds.). *The Dinosauria (2nd).* University of California Press. pp. 517–606. ISBN 978-0-520-24209-8.
9. ↑ Krupa, Daniel (May 16, 2018). HOW JURASSIC WORLD EVOLUTION MADE ITS T.REX - IGN FIRST *IGN*. Retrieved June 14, 2018
10. ↑ Frontier Developments. (October 9, 2017). *Jurassic World Content Reveal* [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
11. ↑ Frontier Developments. (October 8, 2017). *First In-Game Footage - Jurassic World Evolution* [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
12. ↑ Frontier Developments. (February 2, 2018). *Species Profile - Ankylosaurus* [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved October 26, 2019.