Dino with whip tail: New study reveals potential defense strategy of Plateosaurus
22. May 2025
Was the Plateosaurus better armed than previously thought? A new study provides surprising clues: the herbivorous
dinosaur, which lived around 215 to 205 million years ago in the late Triassic period, may have actively used its long tail
for defense – similar to some lizards today.
The
research team led by Thomas Filek (University of Vienna & Boku Vienna) and Ursula Göhlich (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien)
analyzed an exceptionally well-preserved fossil from the Swiss city of Frick, which has been on display at the Natural History
Museum Vienna since 2021. The highlight: the almost completely preserved tail spine with whip-like end made it possible for
the first time to calculate the impact force.
“We were able to show that the tail tip could have performed blows of up to 1.6 kilojoules and a reconstructed full tail blows of up to ~174 kilojoules of kinetic energy. Both would have been enough to injure or deter small to medium-sized theropods”, says Filek.
The researchers compared the anatomy with present-day animals such as warans and iguanas, which are known to use their tails specifically for defense.
Despite its impressive physique, the Plateosaurus had no bony armor or horns – all the more exciting to learn about the possibility of active defense. According to the authors, it is also conceivable that it used the tail to defend its territory or protect its offspring.
The findings provide a better understanding of the behavior of early dinosaurs and highlight how much can be learned from a single, well-preserved fossil.
The Plateosaurus can be seen in the Natural History Museum Vienna in Hall 8.
Filek, T., Kranner, M., Pabst, B. & Göhlich, U.B. (2025): Tail of defence: an almost complete tail skeleton of Plateosaurus (Sauropodomorpha, Late Triassic) reveals possible defence strategies. Royal Society Open Science 12: 250325
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.250325
Scientific inquiries:
Thomas Filek, MA MEd MSc
University of Vienna, Department of Paleontology,
e-mail: thomas.filek@univie.ac.at
Boku University of Vienna, Institute of Zoology,
e-mail: thomas.filek@boku.ac.at
Tel.: +43 69917505725
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4447-0878
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Ursula Göhlich
Research assistant and curator for vertebrate paleontology
Geological-Paleontological Department; NHM Vienna
Tel.: +43-1-52177-257
e-mail: ursula.goehlich@nhm.at
https://www.nhm-wien.ac.at/en/ursula_b_goehlich
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9553-3488
General inquiries:
Mag. Irina Kubadinov, Head of Press Department, Press Spokesperson, NHM Vienna
https://www.nhm.at/irina_kubadinow
Tel.: + 43 (1) 521 77 – 410 | irina.kubadinow@nhm.at
“We were able to show that the tail tip could have performed blows of up to 1.6 kilojoules and a reconstructed full tail blows of up to ~174 kilojoules of kinetic energy. Both would have been enough to injure or deter small to medium-sized theropods”, says Filek.
The researchers compared the anatomy with present-day animals such as warans and iguanas, which are known to use their tails specifically for defense.
Despite its impressive physique, the Plateosaurus had no bony armor or horns – all the more exciting to learn about the possibility of active defense. According to the authors, it is also conceivable that it used the tail to defend its territory or protect its offspring.
The findings provide a better understanding of the behavior of early dinosaurs and highlight how much can be learned from a single, well-preserved fossil.
The Plateosaurus can be seen in the Natural History Museum Vienna in Hall 8.
Filek, T., Kranner, M., Pabst, B. & Göhlich, U.B. (2025): Tail of defence: an almost complete tail skeleton of Plateosaurus (Sauropodomorpha, Late Triassic) reveals possible defence strategies. Royal Society Open Science 12: 250325
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.250325
Scientific inquiries:
Thomas Filek, MA MEd MSc
University of Vienna, Department of Paleontology,
e-mail: thomas.filek@univie.ac.at
Boku University of Vienna, Institute of Zoology,
e-mail: thomas.filek@boku.ac.at
Tel.: +43 69917505725
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4447-0878
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Ursula Göhlich
Research assistant and curator for vertebrate paleontology
Geological-Paleontological Department; NHM Vienna
Tel.: +43-1-52177-257
e-mail: ursula.goehlich@nhm.at
https://www.nhm-wien.ac.at/en/ursula_b_goehlich
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9553-3488
General inquiries:
Mag. Irina Kubadinov, Head of Press Department, Press Spokesperson, NHM Vienna
https://www.nhm.at/irina_kubadinow
Tel.: + 43 (1) 521 77 – 410 | irina.kubadinow@nhm.at
