Stegosaurus, meaning roofed reptile, derives its name from the pointed, tile-like plates that lined the centre of the dinosaur’s back. Stegosaurus belonged to the family Stegosauridae, a group of large, herbivorous dinosaurs that are characterised by the armour-like bony plates or spines that were embedded in their skin. Stegosaurus powered its large, slow-moving body by consuming an entirely herbivorous diet. Fossilised Stegosaurus skeletons can be found in museums such as the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven, Connecticut, United States and in the London’s Natural History Museum in the United Kingdom.
When did Stegosaurus Live?
Stegosaurus roamed the Earth during the Late Jurassic Period. According to The Natural History Museum in London, Stegosaurus first appeared around 156 million years ago and the last Stegosaurus became extinct approximately 144 million years ago.
Distribution
The first Stegosaurus fossil was discovered by O. C. Marsh in 1877. The fossil was located in Colorado, United States. Stegosaurus fossils have been found in western parts of North America, Asia, Europe and eastern parts of Africa.
How Big was Stegosaurus?
An adult Stegosaurus could reach up to 9 meters, or 29.5 feet, in length. A fully-grown Stegosaurus could weigh as much as 3.2 tons. Four large, strong legs supported the body. According to West Virginia University, fossil evidence suggests that Stegosaurus probably had upright hind legs while its front legs may have splayed outwards slightly. Stegosaurus fossils also show that the hind legs were slightly longer than the fore legs.
Head
Despite the enormous size of its body, Stegosaurus had small head and a tiny brain. According to the University of Bristol, the dinosaur’s brain was approximately the same size as a walnut. Stegosaurus had a narrow head with a relatively long snout and a beak-like mouth that was used to cut the vegetation that Stegosaurus fed from. The head was held in a low position.
Plates
Stegosaurus had two rows of bony plates that ran along the length of its back. The plates may have helped to protect the dinosaur from predators. They may also have helped Stegosaurus to control its body temperature. According to the American Museum of Natural History, it is possible that grooves in the plates contained blood vessels that helped Stegosaurus to absorb or lose heat effectively.
Predators and Defense
The Stegosaurus was preyed upon by a number of carnivorous dinosaurs, including Ceratosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex and Allosaurus. Four sharp spikes on a large, powerful tail helped to defend Stegosaurus from these predators.
References
The Natural History Museum, London: Stegosaurus
University of Bristol: Dinobase: Stegosaurus armatus
West Virginia University at Parkersburg: The Ornithischia
American Museum of Natural History: Stegosaurus
Hayley Ames - Born in Norfolk, United Kingdom, Hayley Ames has been writing professionally since the beginning of 2011. Her professional experience ...
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