Line #87 Main/ToughArmoredDinosaur


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5	[[caption-width-right:350:The king of the dinosaurs gets a club invitation.]]
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10	->''"Clankity Clankity Clankity Clank! Ankylosaurus was built like a tank!"''
11	-->-- '''Jack Prelutsky'''
12
13	Similarly to [[TemperCeratops ceratopsians]], the stegosaurs and ankylosaurs[[note]]collectively called ''thyreophoran'' or "shield-bearer" dinosaurs, because they form a distinct taxonomic group identified by their protective armor[[/note]] have a reputation of being tough prey for big theropods, often being referred to as the "tanks" of the dinosaur world.
14
15	Stegosaurs and ankylosaurs (especially the former) are also a frequent subject of DumbDinos, the fact that ''Stegosaurus'' is often stated to have one of the smallest brains among dinosaurs has contributed to this reputation.
16
17	Popular portrayals of armoured dinosaurs vary a lot in personality, but they tend to default towards being portrayed as tough, aggressive, and none-too-bright, as well as having [[BigEater having large appetites]]. Occasionally, they will be portrayed as {{Boisterous Bruiser}}s. In short, they have a reputation as DumbMuscle.
18
19	Compared with ceratopsians, stegosaurs tend to appear more of a sort of Badass GentleGiant dinosaurs -- mostly placid and nonviolent, but [[BewareTheNiceOnes still able to defend themselves if necessary]]. Ankylosaurs usually share the same treatment but tend to be more aggressive and temperamental than stegosaurs.
20
21	While stegosaurs can be either solitary or sociable among each other, ankylosaurs are usually depicted as aggressive, territorial loners.
22
23	Fictional stegosaurs are usually either ''Stegosaurus'' or its smaller, spikier relative ''Kentrosaurus'', whilst fictional ankylosaurs will usually be ''Ankylosaurus'' itself, or occasionally ''Euoplocephalus'', ''Edmontonia'', and ''Polacanthus''.
24
25	Like ceratopsians, ankylosaurs and stegosaurs will often be depicted [[AnimalJingoism facing off against the resident big theropod of their time period]] -- for example, ''Stegosaurus'' is often shown battling ''Allosaurus'', while ''Ankylosaurus'' often does this with ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' ([[AnachronismStew and so does]] ''[[AnachronismStew Stegosaurus]]'' [[AnachronismStew on occasion, for that matter]]). In older portraits, armored dinosaurs were usually depicted as too slow to defend themselves against carnivores, particularly ''Stegosaurus'', but after the "Dinosaur Renaissance" occurring in the 1970s, they are more than likely to win fights. This has resulted in the pendulum swinging in the other direction to a degree, with ankylosaurs and to a lesser-degree stegosaurs sometimes being portrayed as so heavily armored and armed they were immune to predators or by far the most dangerous of all the herbivorous dinosaurs. Neither of these scenarios are particularly true in light of fossil evidence and mechanical tests showing theropods were [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWuB9Z8aMuU quite capable]] of biting through the armor, meaning actual confrontations between the two groups had diverse outcomes.
26
27	See also BewareMyStingerTail, often applied to both stegosaurs and ankylosaurs. Compare with TemperCeratops, GentleGiantSauropod, AquaticHadrosaurs, SocialOrnithopod, and HeadbuttingPachy, which are other plant-eaters of the dinosaur world. For more information about depictions of the ''Stegosaurus'' in popular culture, see [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stegosaurus_in_popular_culture this link.]]
28
29	----
30	!!Examples:
31	[[foldercontrol]]
32
33	[[folder:Advertising]]
34	* In an early 1970s [[https://youtu.be/ph-_kKVsDao commercial for Cocoa Pebbles cereal,]] a factory is depicted where Fred Flintstone sends the cereal down to Barney Rubble via a ''Stegosaurus'' that acts as a conveyor of sorts. The spike motion is even reversible, as shown when Fred tries to get at Barney for eating the product rather than putting it into boxes.
35	[[/folder]]
36
37	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
38	* ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'':
39	** Ankylomon being based on the ''Ankylosaurus'' has strong armor that protects him attacks from higher-level Digimon, although he can't withstand them completely. When Knightmon hits him repeatedly with its {{BFS}}, Ankylomon doesn't suffer any injuries from it, but it still hurts him nonetheless. While the Jogress Evolution with Angemon, named Shakkoumon, completely loses all of Ankylomon's dinosaur traits, Shakkoumon retains Ankylomon's tough defense.
40	** Despite being based and named after the ''tortoise'', Tortamon looks like a yellow dinosaur with a rocky spikes on its back that it can fire at the enemy, and it barely resembles a tortoise.
41	* ''Anime/DigimonDataSquad'': [=BioStegomon=] has large blades on its back, which it can fire at the enemy. The real Stegomon naturally has those blades, too.
42	* ''Anime/DinosaurKing'' naturally has several ankylosaurid and stegosaurid dinosaurs show up. The one who stands out most is Tank, the Alpha Gang's ''Saichania'' who uses her tail club in addition to her Earth-based special attacks.
43	* ''Anime/YouAreUmasou'': Umasou the ''Ankylosaurus'' naturally starts off as naive about the world's dangers, due to being recently hatched, but teachings from his adoptive ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' father Heart causes him to gradually become tougher and wiser.
44	[[/folder]]
45
46	[[folder:Documentaries]]
47	* ''Series/JurassicFightClub'' has one ''Stegosaurus'' stuck in a swamp that nonetheless manages to kill a predatory ''Allosaurus'' with its thagomizer, hitting it in the head to death when it seemed already hopeless and destined to die for starvation. The series also has a ''Gastonia'' fighting against a giant ''[[RaptorAttack Utahraptor]]'', winning the battle by using its stingy tail as a [[TailSlap weapon]].
48	* ''Series/PlanetOfDinosaurs'' shows a sleeping ''Stegosaurus'' in an arid hilly landscape, and another specimen walking lonely in the background of the scene. The sleeping stego is accidentally awakened by the human time traveller and reacts instinctively by hitting some scrubs with its tail, but then walks away peacefully. It's described by the host as a smart animal despite its "apricot"-sized brain.
49	* ''Series/WalkingWithDinosaurs'': ''Stegosaurus'' and ''Ankylosaurus'' appear in the second and sixth episodes. Both are portrayed as large, dim-witted, aggressive herbivores that will attack anything that they see as a threat, and are depicted as facing off against the setting's large theropod. This is largely averted with the ''Polacanthus'', who are portrayed as more docile.
50	[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:FanWorks]]
53	* ''Fanfic/PrehistoricEarth'': Stegosaurus and ankylosaurus are amongst the animals rescued for the titular park, and they both prove animals that the park staff ''very much'' wish to not get on the bad side of.
54	* ''Fanfic/PrehistoricParkReimagined'' features multiple stegosaurs and ankylosaurs amongst the prehistoric animals rescued, with several of them proving very tough and easily capable of being dangerous if provoked (with the stegosaurus in particular being shown to [[FantasticFaunaCounterpart behave very similarly]] to modern day rhinos).
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
58	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'': A ''Stegosaurus'' fights and loses a battle against a ''[[TerrifyingTyrannosaur Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' because it's too slow-running, while ceratopsians and hadrosaurs, both faster, flee the predator. The stego, however, before losing and dying, hits and wounds the ''rex'' [[BewareMyStingerTail with its tail]]. It's shown as a sluggish creature unable to run because of its stubby legs, but this is due to [[ScienceMarchesOn the film being made in 1940]].
59	* ''WesternAnimation/IceAgeDawnOfTheDinosaurs'':
60	** An ''Ankylosaurus'' is amongst the dinosaurs inhabiting the hidden subterranean world full of dinosaurs. It's incredibly aggressive and ill-tempered and tries to attack the gang, which only loses it thanks to Ellie managing to trick a nearby ''[[GentleGiantSauropod Brachiosaurus]]'' into providing them a means to escape. Despite its aggression, it's still seen cowering in fear of [[TheDreaded Rudy]] the ''[[SavageSpinosaurs Baryonyx]]''.
61	** The other armored dinosaur seen inhabiting the hidden world is ''Kentrosaurus'', which are among the dinosaurs menacing the herd after they escape from the above-mentioned ''Ankylosaurus''.
62	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'':
63	** Spike, one of the five main dinosaurs, who serves TheBigGuy of the group: mute and lazy, but still strong and altruistic. He's a ''Stegosaurus'' with big head and small undersized plates and spikes like real-life baby stegosaurs. He's also a BigEater, and a KindHeartedSimpleton. But in the trip toward the Great Valley he reveals himself to be courageous and tough, especially in the scene of the first film in which he pulls tenaciously a big rock with his head together with Littlefoot, to make the rock falling down and hopefully hitting the head of "Sharptooth" below (the villainous T. rex who [[SuperPersistentPredator has pursued them throughout the journey]]).
64	** The original movie also contains an aversion of this trope in the form of Rooter, an elderly ''Scolosaurus''; at first glance, he appears menacing, but immediately reveals himself to be wise, gentle, and kind-hearted toward poor Littlefoot (who had lost his mother in the previous scene). Rooter is very slow-moving, walking like a giant tortoise, and has a worn beak, a wrinkled neck, thick eyebrows, and only one tooth left, revealing he's very old.
65	** The sequels zig-zag this with Mr. Clubtail the ''Ankylosaurus''. At times he is gruff and gluttonous, but other times he can be friendly and helpful.
66	* Url from ''WesternAnimation/{{Dinosaur}}'' is an aversion. He acts [[AllAnimalsAreDogs more like a playful puppy]] than an armored juggernaut, and when danger threatens he's much more likely to cower and hide than fight.
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
70	* ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'': Anguirus is an ankylosaur-like {{Kaiju}} who is Godzilla's first adversary and then becomes his closest ally in the later Showa films. He is noted for his tenacity and toughness, meaning that while he isn't as physically powerful as some of his other kaiju co-stars, he can endure quite a beating and is fearless in battle.
71	* ''Franchise/JurassicPark'':
72	** ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark'' has ''Stegosaurus''. They appear rather aggressive toward the humans to protect their young at a first glance, but this is only because they wrongly believe to be menaced by them, or because they feel themselves disturbed by the humans, while the latter are actually friendly toward the animals, though wary because of their size and number (stegos here are herd animals).
73	** ''Film/JurassicWorld'': The ''Ankylosaurus'' is notoriously one of the few herbivores that visitors cannot interact with at the petting zoo since it is moderately aggressive. One of them later fights the ''Indominus rex'' and manages to bash her face with its tail, before the predator gets the upper hand by flipping it on its back. A big carnivorous dinosaur overturning an ankylosaur to bite its soft underbelly is a common sight in paleo-art.
74	* ''Film/{{King Kong\|1933}}'' (1933): A ''Stegosaurus'' is amongst the prehistoric animals encountered. Acting similarly to a rhino, it charges angrily towards Carl, Jack, and the Venture crewmen with them on sight without provocation (outside possible territoriality matters) and takes at least two gas bombs and multiple gunshots to go down. It also noticeably has a tail long enough to have ''eight'' spikes on it instead of the usual four.
75	[[/folder]]
76
77	[[folder:Literature]]
78	* The original novel ''Literature/{{Carnosaur}}'' by Creator/JohnBrosnan featured ''Scolosaurus'' among the cloned dinosaurs. Like practically every dinosaur in the book (except, needless to say, the ''[[GentleGiantSauropod Brachiosaurus]]'') it's aggressive to an absurd degree, going so far as to destroy a tank with its tail club!
79	* ''Literature/TheDinosaurLords'': Ankylosaurs are used as Rob's secret weapon against Karyl's seemingly invincible legion of dinosaurs. Not carnivores, oddly enough, but Triceratops: It's actually explained that they do not like each other due to being competitors for the same food and territory: the Triceratops can use their horns to flip the Ankylosaurus over, while the Ankylosaur can slip in under the Triceratops to smash their legs via tail club.
80	* ''Literature/{{Prehistoria}}'': Averted heavily with the ''Tarchia'' featured... As a corpse. It apparently had a bad encounter with a territorial ''Deinocheirus'' and its tail club nor armor saved it from getting stomped on and crushed to death by the much larger herbivore.
81	* ''Literature/RaptorRed'' features ''Gastonia'', though in the book it's [[ScienceMarchesOn erroneously]] described as having a club tail. ''Gastonias'' are generally left alone by Red and other ''Utahraptors'', though her mate is from a family that figured out a way to successfully hunt them and he teaches her. Another scene sees a young ''Acrocanthrosaurus'' try to take a bite and [[TeethFlying lose a tooth]] to its tail club, convincing it to go hunting for less tenacious prey.
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Live-Action Shows]]
85	* In ''Series/DinoDan'', ''Stegosaurus'' and ''Euoplocephalus'' are recurring armored dinosaurs in the show, with Dan often trying to learn about their strengths. In one episode, the ''Stegosaurus'' manages to scare off a ''Spinosaurus'' by changing the color of its plates as a warning signal.
86	* ''Series/{{Dinosaurs}}'': Spike, Robbie's friend, is a ''Polacanthus'' and the resident BadButt.
87	[[/folder]]
88
89	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
90	* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'': The Bastiladon is an ankylosaurian beast often used by [[LizardFolk the Lizardmen]] as a war mount. Its noted for its multiple layers of incredibly thick armor that make it impervious to attacks from any of Lustria's carnivores and allow it to carry powerful magical weapons like the Ark of Sotek without being harmed, while also subsequently making it incredibly slow and cumbersome.
91	[[/folder]]
92
93	[[folder:Video Games]]
94	* ''VideoGame/BanjoTooie'': The common baddy of Terrydactyland are small stegosaurs called the Bargasaurus, which attack Banjo on sight by [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin barging into him]]. When Banjo turns into a Baby ''T. rex'' the Bargasaurus do not attack (although they can still damage him) and will even teach him how to roar.
95	* ''VideoGame/EVOSearchForEden'': ''Stegosaurus'' and ''Ankylosaurus'' ("Segosaurus" and "Pronesaurus" in the English translation) are both enemies in the Age of Dinosaurs chapter, with the latter mocking the player for looking stupid. [[spoiler:Zig-zagged in the final chapter, where a surviving population of ''Stegosaurus'' will give the player hints on how to become a human in exchange for sparing them, though they will still attack once returning to the level or refusing their offer.]]
96	* ''Franchise/JurassicPark''
97	** ''VideoGame/JurassicParkDinosaurBattles'': The ''Stegosaurus'' that serves as the end boss of the first map guards the bridge to the second map and doesn't allow anyone to bypass it. An ''Ankylosaurus'' in the third map subverts this as, in addition to being territorial, it's smart enough to set up traps that would take away some of your dinosaur's health before battle.
98	** ''VideoGame/JurassicWorldEvolution'': Stegosaurids and Ankylosaurids, like any other dinosaur have specific needs and can get very fussy if they aren't met, usually being prompted into breaking out of their enclosures. Some, like the ''Ankylosaurus'' are rather notorious in that regard as they would rather be in more spacious enclosures with lesser dinosaurs compared to most herbivores.
99	* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies2ItsAboutTime'': ''Stegosaurus'' and ''Ankylosaurus'' appear as stage hazards in the Jurassic Marsh. The former is depicted with a goofy smile, though it will stare at the screen with a bored expression if it's unable to hit the zombies with its tail. The latter also has a dopey design, but holds its spiked tail above its head like a scorpion, denoting that it's more disruptive and harder to deal with than the other dinosaurs.
100	* StarterMon Turtwig from ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' becomes Torterra in its final evolution, a turtle/ankylosaur hybrid with TurtleIsland motifs. It's a GentleGiant, but is fearsome-looking and is rather tough with its high attack and defense.
101	* ''VideoGame/{{Saurian}}'': ''Ankylosaurus'' is one of the six confirmed playable dinosaurs in the game. It is the most territorial herbivore in the game, only tolerating members of its own kind during mating seasons and competing against even other herbivores regarding its diet. As a realistic simulation of the Hell Creek Formation, players are [[InvokedTrope forced to play]] ''Ankylosaurus'' as a territorial animal.
102	* ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'' averts this with the Thorntails, a tribe of peaceful and harmless nodosaurs, but plays it straight with the Firecrawlers, a tribe of angry mutated ankylosaurs fought in Moon Mountain Pass and Dragon Rock who breathe fire and have a ton of health.
103	* ''VideoGame/ZniwAdventure'': Inverted with the blue ''Euoplocephalus'' at Rivenn-na; he is rather cowardly and becomes scared by a pack of ''Troodon'', despite him being bigger and well-armed. Played straight with his brother, a red ''Euoplocephalus'', who has no problem standing up to the ''Troodon'' pack blocking the path.
104	* Both the original ''VideoGame/ZooTycoon'' game and its sequel have ''Ankylosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'' and ''Kentrosaurus'' when the prehistoric animals expansion pack has been installed. They are dangerous to human guests and regular zoo animals however due to lazy programming they are also very easy prey for any carnivorous predatory dinosaur such as a ''T.rex'' or a ''Velociraptor'' which instantly kill and eat them if they are placed in the same exhibit.
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:Western Animation]]
108	* ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'': Stegmutt is an anthropomorphic duck turned into an equally anthropomorphic ''Stegosaurus'' by a DevolutionDevice. He's a GentleGiant DumbMuscle who is initially the incompetent and [[MinionWithAnFInEvil not very malevolent]] henchman of the villainous Dr. Fossil, but he joins the [[SuperTeam Justice Ducks]] after his HeelFaceTurn.
109	* ''WesternAnimation/DinosaurTrain'': Hank ''Ankylosaurus''[='=] bony plates come in useful when playing dinoball; he isn't hurt one bit when he gets hit by the ball or tackled by other players (who are all ankylosaurs).
110
111	* ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeDinosaurs'': Stegz (a ''Stegosaurus'', naturally) and later Hardrock (an ''Ankylosaurus''). Both are shown as musclebound, barechested anthropomorphic dinosaurs. In an inversion of the stereotypes of stegosaurs as Jurassic dimwits, Stegz is the team's thoughtful GadgeteerGenius. Meanwhile, Hardrock is more of a MartialPacifist despite his fearsome appearance.
112	* ''Franchise/TheTransformers'':
113	** Snarl the Dinobot transforms into a ''Stegosaurus.'' Like all the Dinobots, his intelligence varies considerably depending on the continuity, but even in the cartoon, where the Dinobots genuinely are idiots he's not the dumb one of the team (that honor goes to Sludge the ''Brontosaurus''). He is, however, exceedingly tough, aggressive and antisocial, being a loner who only finds happiness in battle.
114	** Soundwave's cassette, Slugfest, is also a ''Stegosaurus''. He's always stupid regardless of the continuity. He's also TheBerserker, flying into a rage at anything he doesn't understand (and since he's an idiot, that's everything).
115	* Like Url from the Animated Film folder, Bumpy from ''WesternAnimation/JurassicWorldCampCretaceous'' averts this trope by virtue of being an atypically cute and shy ''Ankylosaurus'' who doesn't do much in the way of fighting. [[spoiler:Played straight in Season 2, where she is now fully-grown and able to defeat Toro the ''Carnotaurus'' with ease, and in Season 3 where she is one of the only dinosaurs that can withstand and chase off the insane venomous prototype hybrid ''Scorpios rex''. Season 4 introduces Pierce the ''Kentrosaurus'' who is strong enough to hold his own in a fight with Big Eatie the ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' before standing his ground against several mind-controlled dinosaurs in Season 5.]]
116	[[/folder]]

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