Huge thanks to Ghostbusters writer and star Dan Aykroyd for stopping by @ROMtoronto to meet our new #dinosaur Zuul crurivastator! #DinoZuul pic.twitter.com/pmEwGVHxwf
— ROM Palaeontology (@ROMPalaeo) May 10, 2017
May 10 (UPI) -- Scientists in Canada named a newly discovered dinosaur after a character from the original Ghostbusters film.
The 75 million-year-old ankylosaur was named Zuul crurivastator for its resemblance to the Ghostbusters character Zuul and it's powerful tail.
"This dinosaur's short snout, long horns behind the eyes and on the cheeks, and gnarly face resemble Zuul, a fictional monster from the 1984 film Ghostbusters," the Royal Ontario Museum said.
The museum celebrated the unique name by inviting Ghostbusters actor Dan Aykroyd to pose for photos with Zuul's head.
Its species name "crurivastator" means "destroyer of shins" and refers to its powerful sledgehammer-like tail.
"These powerful tail clubs were unique to ankylosaurine dinosaurs like Zuul, and could inflict serious damage on opponents, such as predatory theropods or maybe even other ankylosaurs competing for mates or territory," the museum said.
Museum staff said Zuul's skeleton, which was excavated from a quarry in Montana, is amazing well preserved.
"The preservation of the fossil is truly remarkable. Not only is the skeleton almost completely intact, but large parts of the bony armour in the skin are still in its natural position," David Evans of the Royal Ontario Museum told the Guardian.
