Page 24 - Reptiles & Dinosaurs (Britannica Illustrated Science Library)

20 DINOSAURS REPTILES AND DINOSAURS 21

A Docile Vegetarian Stegosaurus

was an ornithischian dinosaur that Stegosaurus was an easy victim for the great
his striking dinosaur is one of the most widely belonged to the family Stegosauridae. predators of its time, such as Allosaurus, but
studied in the history of paleontology. The first Its distinctive features included wide plates on it is also believed that it may have been
its back and four spines, up to 24 inches (60
hunted by packs of small predators, such as
T fossils were discovered by Othniel C. cm) long, on its tail. The function of these Ornitholestes. It is doubtful that Stegosaurus
Marsh in 1877 in the American West, during features is still under debate, but it is believed could raise itself up on its hind legs, so it
that they served mainly for self-defense.
probably fed mostly on low bushes.
the “Bone Wars.” This quadruped herbivore STEGOSAURUS
could measure up to 29.5 feet (9 m) long Stegosaurus armatus
and weigh up to 2.2 tons (2 metric tons). Size 29.5 feet (9 m)
Because of its small head, it has been used Diet Herbivorous
since the 19th century as a symbol of Habitat Subtropical Forests
stupidity. It was later shown that Epoch Late Jurassic
most dinosaurs had small brains and Range North America
that Stegosaurus's brain was larger
than average.
WHERE IT LIVED
The first fossils were
found in Colorado.
Other specimens have
since been found in
India, western
Europe, southern
Africa, and China.

Tail
Stegosaurus's only
real defense was likely
the four spines on its
tail, which it swung
back and forth.

Head
Its lightweight head had
small teeth that were of
little use for chewing, so it
swallowed plants whole.

PLATES
These triangular bony
structures were not very
solid, but they had a
complex network of veins.
The plates were likely used
to regulate the animal's
Legs body temperature or even Dorsal Plate Caudal Plate Cervical Plate
Its front legs were for courtship.
half as long as its
hind legs. Each
foot had five wide,
short toes.