What is crichtonpelta?

Crichtonpelta is a genus of ankylosaurid dinosaur endemic to North America during the Late Cretaceous period, about 76 million years ago. The type and only known species is Crichtonpelta benxiensis, named in honor of Michael Crichton, the author of Jurassic Park. Its fossils were first discovered in the Blackhawk Formation of Utah in 2006. It was a medium-sized herbivorous dinosaur, estimated to have been about 4-5 meters long and weighing around 1 ton. It had a heavily armored body that was covered with bony plates and spikes for protection against predators. The head was also covered in armor and featured a beak-like mouth for cropping vegetation. The discovery of Crichtonpelta has provided new insight into the evolution and geographic distribution of ankylosaurid dinosaurs in North America.