Talarurus

Say it like this: “TAL-uh-ROOR-uhs”

Talarurus plicatospineus

Talarurus ate plants and walked on four legs. It lived in the Late Cretaceous. Bones have been found in Mongolia.

Quiz me on Talarurus

When: Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Santonian) · roughly 100.5 to 83.6 million years ago
Named in: 1952 · Maleev, E. A.
Hip height: 1.3 m · 4 ft
Length: 5–6 m · 16–20 ft
Weight: 0.5–2 tonnes
Found in: Mongolia · Bayanshiree
Food and walking: Herbivore · Four legs
Kind: armored dinosaur · Ankylosaur
Family branch: Ankylosaurinae

The story in short

Talarurus was formally named in 1952 by E. A. Maleev. The name means “basket tail.”

It lived in the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Santonian), roughly 100.5 to 83.6 million years ago. Finds come from Mongolia, including the Bayanshiree Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on four legs.

Published estimates put Talarurus at a length near 5–6 m, hips about 1.3 m high, and a body mass around 0.5–2 tonnes.

On the family tree it sits in Ankylosaurinae, among the armored dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Akainacephalus

Akainacephalus johnsoni

Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago

Ankylosaurus

Ankylosaurus magniventris

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago

Anodontosaurus

Anodontosaurus lambei

Late Cretaceous (Campanian · Maastrichtian) · roughly 83.6 to 66 million years ago