The development of anisotropy in an initially isotropic spectrum is studied numerically for two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence. The anisotropy develops due to the combined effects of an externally imposed dc magnetic field and viscous and resistive dissipation at high wave numbers. The effect is most pronounced at high mechanical and magnetic Reynolds numbers. The anisotropy is greater at the higher wave numbers.;The statistical structure of two-dimensional MHD turbulence is also considered. It is shown that the three known rugged invariants of the isotropic case reduce to two for the anisotropic case. Randomness and ergodicity are also briefly discussed
