Destroyer of Shins

A fearsome ankylosaur finds a permanent home in ROM’s dinosaur gallery.

After a brief closure the James and Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs and the Reed Gallery of the Age of Mammals are inviting visitors back to a new and improved gallery experience. The re-envisioned space displays even more of our favourite dinosaurs, and welcomes a familiar face into the mix.

The world-famous fossils of the beloved ankylosaur, Zuul crurivastator, now have a permanent display in the renovated galleries. Zuul’s skeleton is one of the most complete ever found for an ankylosaur and has an amazingly preserved spiky tail and tail club.

Christened Zuul after the iconic movie monster of the same name from the 1984 film Ghostbusters, this ankylosaur had a gnarly head, a body covered in bony spikes, and a deadly, sledgehammer-like tail. The species name, crurivastator, means “destroyer of shins,” a reference to its exquisitely preserved sledgehammer-like tail. Unique to ankylosaurine dinosaurs like Zuul, these tail clubs could inflict serious damage on opponents, such as predatory theropods or maybe even other ankylosaurs competing for mates or territory.

Expanded by 3,500 square feet, the galleries feature new displays and interactives. In addition to the permanent Zuul display, visitors will marvel at an incredible life-sized fight scene between Zuul and Gorgosaurus and come across two complete duck-billed dinosaurs—including the renowned Parasaurolophus walkeri. ROM Members enjoy exclusive access to revamped galleries, new exhibitions, VIP previews, and behind-the-scenes tours as part of their membership perks.

Visit rom.on.ca/membership for more information.