PLoS One August 2009 PMID 19707581

Estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by ankylosaurid dinosaurs.

Victoria Megan Arbour

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Mentions

101

Peak: 41 in Oct 2020

across 4 sources since May 2019

Extended reach

445,753

potential audience

Total likes

7,927

Video views

150,509

Mentions per month

May 2019 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

Overall, the group expresses strong interest and moderate engagement with mentions of the paper's focus on impact forces and biomechanics, highlighted through phrases like 'amazing paper,' 'inspired today’s response,' and comments on how art influences scientific understanding. The tone reflects enthusiasm, especially around the implications for how ankylosaurs used their tails as weapons, indicating that the publication is seen as meaningful and influential within discussions of dinosaur defense mechanisms.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions positively acknowledge the significance of the research, especially the potential for impact and the support from visual and scientific evidence.

InterestHigh interest

Posts indicate high interest, with mentions of studying tail impact forces, biomechanics, and the influence of art on scientific understanding.

EngagementModerate engagement

Participants show moderate engagement by referencing specific studies, methods, and sharing their own thoughts or responses to the topic.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest the article has a noteworthy influence on scientific curiosity and artistic representations, with some posts indicating that the research could reshape understanding of ankylosaur defenses.

Abstract in brief

The study investigates whether the tail club of ankylosaurid dinosaurs was actively used as a weapon, analyzing CT scans and tail structure to estimate impact forces.
Findings suggest that larger tail knobs could generate enough force to break bones, indicating they could have been effective weapons, while smaller knobs likely could not.
The tail's design and muscle attachments support the idea that ankylosaurids could swing their tails, but it is still unclear if they used them for defense against other species, fighting among themselves, or both.]

Read the full abstract

All mentions

Ankylosaurus Fossil Highlights Defensive Armor and Tail Club

This fossil showcases the tail of one of Earth's strongest herbivorous dinosaurs, the Ankylosaurus. Known for its armored body and tail club, it used its bony armor and weapon to defend against predators.

Biookuler · May 15, 2024 53,042 views

Impact Force Analysis of Ankylosaur Tail Clubs in Dinosaur Defense and Combat

This video explores whether ankylosaurid dinosaurs used their tail clubs as weapons, analyzing CT scans and tail structures. Larger tail knobs could generate enough force to break bones, indicating possible use in…

Your Dinosaurs Are Wrong · Mar 10, 2024 51,042 views

Analyzing the Weapon Potential of Ankylosaur Tail Clubs

This video explores whether ankylosaur tail clubs served as effective weapons. Using CT scans and structural analysis, the study estimates impact forces, revealing that larger tail knobs could break bones, indicating a…

Your Dinosaurs Are Wrong · Mar 17, 2024 41,805 views

The REAL Ankylosaurus

The Owl · Apr 4, 2024 4,620 views

Ausarchosaur

@ausar_the · X

Ref: https://t.co/C1fMxny3e0

Nov 22, 2025 · 3 likes · 7,408 followers View post →

Probably Glaive

@ProbablyGlaive · X

@Sahastheherp @ARGAtheropodfan Image from : https://t.co/fCxiMZ2kgf

Oct 29, 2024 · 2 likes · 5 followers View post →

加藤ひろし / 恐竜のお兄さん @GBめぐりシリーズ公式アンバサダー

@Hiro_DinoPaleo · X

#ジュラシック・ワールド #ジュラシックワールドアンキロサウルス達アンキロサウルス科の尾は、付け根がよく動いていたと考えられています。 Arbour (2009) https://t.co/Sar2p01OuJ 写真はズールの尾です https://t.co/xzwen7orzT

May 17, 2024 · 3 likes · 4,958 followers View post →

greatwhite1229

@greatwhite1229 · X

RT @raptorrobb: The amazing paper "estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by Ankylosaurid dinosaurs" by the remarkable @VictoriaArbo…

Dec 12, 2022 · 59 shares · 35 followers View post →

Victoria Arbour

@VictoriaArbour · X

RT @VictoriaArbour: The artistic portrayal of ankylosaurs has definitely shaped how we approach studying them, and vice versa - when I did…

Dec 10, 2022 · 2 shares · 5,828 followers View post →

Victoria Arbour

@VictoriaArbour · X

Dec 9, 2022 · 17 likes · 2 shares · 5,828 followers View post →

Dromeoraptor

@Dromeoraptor · X

RT @RizkiusMaulanae: @DeerMissBambi Yes there is https://t.co/UkdmIGHv0l https://t.co/tsWVZRQk1q

Nov 23, 2022 · 1 share · 185 followers View post →

M. Rizky M.

@RizkiusMaulanae · X

@DeerMissBambi Yes there is https://t.co/UkdmIGHv0l https://t.co/tsWVZRQk1q

Nov 22, 2022 · 29 likes · 1 share · 4,022 followers View post →

Serpentking789

@serpentking7891 · X

RT @raptorrobb: The amazing paper "estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by Ankylosaurid dinosaurs" by the remarkable @VictoriaArbo…

Sep 25, 2022 · 59 shares · 185 followers View post →

Blazing

@theblazinggolem · X

RT @raptorrobb: The amazing paper "estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by Ankylosaurid dinosaurs" by the remarkable @VictoriaArbo…

Sep 24, 2022 · 59 shares · 128 followers View post →

seenah

@voltaseeno · X

RT @raptorrobb: The amazing paper "estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by Ankylosaurid dinosaurs" by the remarkable @VictoriaArbo…

Sep 23, 2022 · 59 shares · 25 followers View post →

Cloreto de (S)ódio

@Theo_lokison · X

RT @raptorrobb: The amazing paper "estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by Ankylosaurid dinosaurs" by the remarkable @VictoriaArbo…

Sep 23, 2022 · 59 shares · 921 followers View post →

N.T.

@Emberricca · X

RT @raptorrobb: The amazing paper "estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by Ankylosaurid dinosaurs" by the remarkable @VictoriaArbo…

Sep 23, 2022 · 59 shares · 130 followers View post →

Fang ( Commissions Open)

@Fang83768513 · X

RT @raptorrobb: The amazing paper "estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by Ankylosaurid dinosaurs" by the remarkable @VictoriaArbo…

Sep 23, 2022 · 59 shares · 1,595 followers View post →

AdderLovely

@AdderLovely · X

RT @raptorrobb: The amazing paper "estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by Ankylosaurid dinosaurs" by the remarkable @VictoriaArbo…

Sep 23, 2022 · 59 shares · 127 followers View post →

Juan Yu See #FreePalestine

@Juanyudocus · X

RT @raptorrobb: The amazing paper "estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by Ankylosaurid dinosaurs" by the remarkable @VictoriaArbo…

Sep 23, 2022 · 59 shares · 1,709 followers View post →

RIAMUS - commissions open again!

@Riamus01 · X

RT @raptorrobb: The amazing paper "estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by Ankylosaurid dinosaurs" by the remarkable @VictoriaArbo…

Sep 23, 2022 · 59 shares · 28,022 followers View post →

macrothorax

@macrothorax_ · X

RT @raptorrobb: The amazing paper "estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by Ankylosaurid dinosaurs" by the remarkable @VictoriaArbo…

Sep 22, 2022 · 59 shares · 16 followers View post →

AquaticFlapper

@AquaticFlapper · X

RT @raptorrobb: The amazing paper "estimating impact forces of tail club strikes by Ankylosaurid dinosaurs" by the remarkable @VictoriaArbo…

Sep 21, 2022 · 59 shares · 1,425 followers View post →

Tokyohelper:石田雅彦

@tokyohelper · X

RT @Hiro_DinoPaleo: #DINOPALEOch アンキロサウルス科の尾のクラブについて、CTスキャンで生み出す力を分析した研究論文(Arbour @VictoriaArbour 2009 https://t.co/Sar2p01OuJ)と有限要素解析で力の掛か…

Aug 4, 2022 · 2 shares · 5,150 followers View post →

加藤ひろし / 恐竜のお兄さん @GBめぐりシリーズ公式アンバサダー

@Hiro_DinoPaleo · X

Aug 4, 2022 · 2 shares · 4,958 followers View post →

加藤ひろし / 恐竜のお兄さん @GBめぐりシリーズ公式アンバサダー

@Hiro_DinoPaleo · X

#DINOPALEOch アンキロサウルス科の尾のクラブについて、CTスキャンで生み出す力を分析した研究論文(Arbour @VictoriaArbour 2009 https://t.co/Sar2p01OuJ)と有限要素解析で力の掛かり具合を分析した研究論文(Arbour and Snively 2009 https://t.co/S695idERHx)です。 https://t.co/61g5NgvDzP

Jun 4, 2022 · 1 like · 2 shares · 4,958 followers View post →

加藤ひろし / 恐竜のお兄さん @GBめぐりシリーズ公式アンバサダー

@Hiro_DinoPaleo · X

RT @Hiro_DinoPaleo: #DINOPALEOch アンキロサウルス科の尾のクラブの骨組織学についての研究論文(Hayashi et al. 2010 https://t.co/8aDAOV7KTr)とクラブの威力を推定した研究論文(Arbour 2009 ht…

May 17, 2022 · 2 shares · 4,958 followers View post →

ｶﾞｲｽ

@shitake_reverse · X

Mar 27, 2022 · 2 shares · 3,474 followers View post →

加藤ひろし / 恐竜のお兄さん @GBめぐりシリーズ公式アンバサダー

@Hiro_DinoPaleo · X

#DINOPALEOch アンキロサウルス科の尾のクラブの骨組織学についての研究論文(Hayashi et al. 2010 https://t.co/8aDAOV7KTr)とクラブの威力を推定した研究論文(Arbour 2009 https://t.co/Sar2p01OuJ)です。 https://t.co/hSvCLY6nWD

Mar 25, 2022 · 2 likes · 2 shares · 4,958 followers View post →

Sharptooth Shabazz

@YBankole02 · X

Imma have to read this paper over the weekend, I'm pretty sure that the impact forces of Ankylosaur tail clubs varied between different genera and well as the over all size and shape of the clubs themselves. https://t.co/4kvQ3Tz8WG

Feb 4, 2022 · 827 followers View post →

Radek L

@RadekL3 · X

@kweenolog Tady je nějaký čtení https://t.co/zf29eodkAB

Jan 27, 2022 · 84 followers View post →

四poda

@Ur_bilateria · X

アンキロサウルス類の尾の威力、最大サイズのハンマーなら364〜718MPaの衝撃応力があるらしい https://t.co/zwurjIu5zi

Sep 5, 2021 · 377 followers View post →

Ausarchosaur

@ausar_the · X

Reference: https://t.co/C1fMxnxvos

Aug 25, 2021 · 4 likes · 7,408 followers View post →

Lt.Stapes

@DarthStapes · X

@kurinosukeboy PLoS Oneの論文なので妥当性は不安ですが一応 https://t.co/WHXIXHiRkR

Dec 9, 2020 · 1,375 followers View post →