Zuul

Zuul was a massive ankylosaurid dinosaur that lived in North America around 75 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. Uncovered in Montana's Judith River Formation, the specimen represents one of the most complete ankylosaur skeletons ever found, preserving skin impressions, horny sheaths, and complete armour from snout to tail. Reaching roughly six metres in length and weighing up to three tonnes, Zuul possessed a broad, flattened body and an impressive tail weapon. The tail ended in a large bony club flanked by triangular, blade-like spikes along its sides. Damage to the flanks of the fossil skeleton suggests these dinosaurs actively used their tail clubs to battle each other for territory or mates, rather than employing them purely as defensive weapons against predatory theropods.

Its species name means 'shin destroyer' due to its massive, pointed tail club and flanking lateral tail spines.

Where and when

Zuul lived in the Late Cretaceous, from 76.2 to 75.2 million years ago (Campanian age). Its remains come from United States, in the Judith River Formation.

The numbers

Length 6 m. Mass about 2.7 t. Hip height about 1.5 m. That is 3.5 human-lengths, or 0.54 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from near-complete skeleton; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, hip height.

Compare Zuul with a bus Place on the timeline