Stegosaurus

The Stegosaurus was a dinosaur who's fossils have been found in Morrison, Colorado and in Clay Formation in England and France. The Stegosaurus lived approximately 154 to 144 million years ago during the Jurassic period.

Fast Facts

1. Name Means: "Roof Lizard"
2. Naming Credit: Othniel Charles Marsh (1877)
3. Range: Western North America
4. Classification:
   1. Order: Ornithischia
   2. Family: Stegosauridae
   3. Genus: Stegosaurus
   4. Type Species: Stegosaurus armatus
5. Period: Late Jurassic
6. Length: Up to 30 feet
7. Height: Up to 14 feet
8. Weight: 7 tons
9. Moved in multi-aged herds
10. Highly recognizable species
11. Popular Culture: State Dinosaur of Colorado

Bony Plates

The bulky, tiny-headed Stegosaurs are so familiar to popular culture largely due to their interesting physical ornamentation. The animal possessed bony triangular plates that ran in a double row along its spine, and four long spikes at the end of its tail.

The purpose of the bony plates is not known for sure. Since each plate was well-supplied with a network of blood vessels, it has been hypothesized that the plates were used to help the animal regulate body temperature. Also (and possibly in addition), the plates could have been for sexual display, or to ward off predators by causing the animal to appear larger than it was.

Tail Spikes

The tail of the Stegosaurus, which was held high above the ground, was armed with four sharp spikes. Evidence of stress fractures, and the perfect fit of Stegosaurus tail spikes with holes found in the bones of the predatory Allosaurus, seems to indicate conclusively that Stegosaurus used this armament as an offensive deterrent against carnivorous dinosaurs.

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