Tale of tails: How ankylosaurs became club kings

The tale of the tail: Two species of Ankylosaurs – Ziapelta (left) and Gobisaurus – showing their different tails, with Ziapelta sporting a fully developed tail club, a formidable weapon. Image: Reuters/Victoria Arbour

The tale of the tail: Two species of ankylosaurs – Ziapelta (left) and Gobisaurus – showing their different tails, with Ziapelta sporting a fully developed formidable tail club. Image: Reuters/Victoria Arbour

One of the most impressive weapons to appear during the dinosaur arms race of the Cretaceous Period was the big bony tail club wielded by some members of a group of tank-like plant-eaters.