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Stegosaurus (name meaning "roof lizard") is a genus stegosaurid dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Jurassic period.

Facts[]

Stegosaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur. It was discovered in the upper Morrison Formation and described by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1877.  Recently, a new species has been discovered in Portugal. Four species have been identified so far:

  • S. armatus (Marsh, 1877)
  • S. stenops (Marsh, 1887)
  • S. sulcatus (Marsh, 1887)
  • S. longispinus (Gilmore, 1914)

Due to its thagomizer and osteoderms, Stegosaurus is one of the most recognizable dinosaurs. Its thagomizers were used to defend itself from predators and used to fight off rivals. Its osteoderms were probably used for intimidation and display. Stegosaurus flushed blood into the osteoderms to create a red, fierce colouring when surprised. During the Jurassic, many theropod dinosaurs like Allosaurus and Saurophaganax existed so it needed to be in groups. Loads of fossils of Stegosaurus, as well as other dinosaurs, have been discovered in the same place, suggesting a natural predator trap. The Stegosaurus would drink from a river and become stuck in thick mud, causing it to starve. Predators would come and attempt to kill it but then they would become stuck themselves.

In Planet Dinosaur[]

Episode 4: Fight for Life[]

A herd of Stegosaurus and Camptosaurus were browsing. The two species were working together. The Stegosaurus were the defense and offense of the group whilst Camptosaurus were the scouters, always keeping a look out. However, despite being a team, the Stegosaurus would budge the Camptosaurus to get at their food. The Camptosaurus however, could still do the same. Then, the Camptosaurus saw an Allosaurus in the distance which was waiting there. They alerted the rest of the group but, then, the Allosaurus vanishes. Just as the group began to settle down, the Allosaurus came charging. The group scattered in all directions, trying to escape. The Stegosaurus were too slow to run though. The Allosaurus stopped chasing the Camptosaurus, realising that they were too far away, and turned towards the Stegosaurus instead. It ran towards an individual, who was swinging its tail at it. The Allosaurus circles it, narrowly missing the Stegosaurus' thagomizers, and then, dashes towards a juvenile. The Allosaurus bites one of its osteoderms then its side. It then bit the juvenile's neck but, then, suddenly, an adult Stegosaurus whacked the Allosaurus with its thagomizers. The Allosaurus, laying on the ground in agony, watched as the group staggered away.

Trivia[]

  • Stegosaurus has the smallest brain relative to its body size of any dinosaur. While its body weighed 5 short tons (10,000 lb), its brain approximately weighed only 80 grams (2.8 oz).
  • Stegosaurus was once believed to have a second brain due to its braincase to be able to accommodate something 20x the size of its brain.

Gallery[]

Planet Dinosaur Database and Mentioned Creatures

Lost World: Tyrannosaurus  • Spinosaurus  • Irritator  • Baryonyx  • Siamosaurus  • Onchopristis  • Carcharodontosaurus  • Allosaurus  • Aerosteon  • Lacusovagus  • Iguanodon
Feathered Dragons: Microraptor  • Sinornithosaurus  • Epidexipteryx  • Sinosauropteryx  • Anchiornis  • Sinraptor  • Oviraptor  • Gigantoraptor  • Caudipteryx  • Troodon  • Beipiaosaurus  • Jeholosaurus  • Tianyuraptor  • Velociraptor
Last Killers: Gorgosaurus  • Daspletosaurus  • Tarbosaurus  • Tyrannosaurus  • Albertosaurus  • Chasmosaurus  • Psittacosaurus  • Raptorex  • Protoceratops  • Alectrosaurus  • Triceratops  • Mojoceratops  • Styracosaurus  • Alioramus  • Troodon  • Edmontosaurus  • Majungasaurus  • Carcharodontosaurus  • Centrosaurus
Fight for Life: Kimmerosaurus  • PliosaurusTyrannosaurus  • Stegosaurus  • Camptosaurus  • Allosaurus  • Saurophaganax

New Giants: Argentinosaurus  • Mapusaurus  • TyrannosaurusAllosaurusDiplodocusNeovenatorOrnithopsisSinraptorMamenchisaurus  • Paralititan  • Sarcosuchus  • Carcharodontosaurus  • Sauroposeidon  • Acrocanthosaurus
The Great Survivors: Ampelosaurus  • Iguanodon  • Neovenator  • Hypsilophodon  • Paralititan  • Spinosaurus  • Carcharodontosaurus  • Deltadromeus  • Erectopus  • Quaesitosaurus  • Tarbosaurus  • Therizinosaurus  • Gallimimus  • Achillobator  • Mononykus  • Tyrannosaurus  • Triceratops  • Edmontosaurus  • Albertosaurus  • Gorgosaurus  • Anodontosaurus  • Dromaeosaurus  • Variraptor  • Argentinosaurus  •Mapusaurus  • Ankylosaurus  • Gasparinisaura  • Magyarosaurus  • Zalmoxes  • Telmatosaurus  • Hatzegopteryx  • Styracosaurus  • Stygimoloch  • Parasaurolophus  • Archaeoceratops  • Oviraptor  • Baryonyx  • Polacanthus  • Pelecanimimus  • Nothronychus  • Suskityrannus  • Clostridium  • Majungasaurus  • Microraptor  • Gigantoraptor  • Oviraptor  • Didelphodon

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