Struthiosaurus

Phylogeny: Dinosauria > Ornithischia > Genasauria > Thyreophora > Thyreophoroidea > Eurypoda > Ankylosauria > Euankylosauria > Nodosauridae > Struthiosaurini

Overview: Growing to be between two and three meters in length, Struthiosaurus would’ve been a relatively small ankylosaur. It was still heavily armored, however, with rows of bony scutes running down its back, sides, neck, and tail. Some of these scutes were larger than others, taking on a more spike-like form, particularly over the shoulders. Such spines were common to ankylosaurs classified in the family Nodosauridae. Nodosaurids lacked the bony clubs seen on the tails of those within the other major family, the Ankylosauridae. They also tended to have narrower snouts, which seems to have been the case with Struthiosaurus itself, suggesting a more selective diet. Struthiosaurus itself may’ve been a source of food for local predatory theropods, though its armor made it fairly tough to kill, even at its smaller size. Its bony armor also may’ve been used as storage for minerals.

Fossils belonging to Struthiosaurus were first discovered in the 1850’s, in an Austrian coal mine. Its teeth were the first remains recovered, but the rear portion of a skull was also found. In 1871, the skull portion was used by Austrian paleontologist Emanuel Bunzel as the basis for a new genus. He derived the name of Struthiosaurus from Greek, meaning “ostrich lizard”, referring to its braincase, which Bunzel noted was similar in some ways to those of birds. Fossils of other European armored dinosaurs would later be referred to Struthiosaurus as additional species. Most of these are likely not from Struthiosaurus itself, though some may be from close relatives. Struthiosaurus acts as the namesake of a tribe of nodosaurids called the Struthiosaurini. Pawpawsaurus, Hungarosaurus, and Europelta are other possible members of this clade, though there is still some debate.