Stegosaurus (/ˌstɛɡə'sɔ:rəs/), from Greek stegos (στέγος), which means roof, and sauros (σαῦρος), which means lizard, is a genus of herbivorous thyreophoran dinosaur. Fossils of this genus date to the Late Jurassic period, where they are found in Kimmeridgian to early Tithonian aged strata, between 155 and 150 million years ago, in the western United States and Portugal. Of the species that have been classified in the upper Morrison Formation of the western US, only three are universally recognized; S. stenops, S. ungulatus and S. sulcatus. The remains of over 80 individual animals of this genus have been found. Stegosaurus would have lived alongside dinosaurs such as Apatosaurus, Diplodocus, Brachiosaurus, Allosaurus, and Ceratosaurus; the latter two may have preyed on it.
Description[]
"Stegosaurus was a quadrupedal plant-eating dinosaur known for the distinctive rows of large upright plates on their back."
Traits[]
The rare traits matching this generators type are: Herbivore , Quadrupedal , Jurassic Age . Stegosaurus is also affected by the epic traits: Herd Behavior , Hollow Bones , Feathers , Warm Climate .
| Icon | Name | Description | Requires |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Armour | By developing bony plates, spikes, and scales that were embedded in their skin, some dinosaurs were able to stay protected against attacks from predators. | Rank 3 |
|
Flat Teeth | Broad, blunt teeth help to grind fibrous plant material into a digestible state. These are necessary for an herbivorous diet. | Rank 6 |
Achievements[]
| Icon | Name | Description | Requires |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Beak Smart | Paleontologists believe that stegosaurus probably grazed on low-lying bushes and foliage, due to its lack of front teeth. This indicates that stegosaurus may have had a bird-like beak. | 75 Stegosaurus |
|
No-Brainer | Despite its large size, Stegosaurus' braincase was no larger than that of a modern dog. In fact, Stegosaurus had the smallest brain-to-body-size ratio of any known dinosaur. | 200 Stegosaurus |
Trivia[]
Stegosaurus were large, heavily built, herbivorous quadrupeds with rounded backs, short fore limbs, long hind limbs, and tails held high in the air. Due to their distinctive combination of broad, upright plates and tail tipped with spikes, Stegosaurus is one of the most recognizable kinds of dinosaurs. The function of this array of plates and spikes has been the subject of much speculation among scientists. Today, it is generally agreed that their spiked tails were most likely used for defense against predators, while their plates may have been used primarily for display, and secondarily for thermoregulatory functions. Stegosaurus had a relatively low brain-to-body mass ratio. It had a short neck and a small head, meaning it most likely ate low-lying bushes and shrubs. One species, Stegosaurus ungulatus, is the largest known of all the stegosaurians (bigger than related dinosaurs such as Kentrosaurus and Huayangosaurus).
