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Stegosaurus
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Stegosaurus was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived in North
America and
Europe
(the first European specimen was found in
Portugal in
2006)
during the
late Jurassic period,
about 155 to 144 million years ago.
The creature's name, which was chosen by
Othniel C. Marsh
in 1877, means "roof lizard".
Stegosaurus was up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) long. An average Stegosaurus was
around 20 feet (6.1 meters) long, and weighed 2 tons.
Stegosaurus had much longer hind legs than forelegs, and very strong muscles
around its hips. So, although Stegosaurus walked on all fours, it is
thought likely that the animal could have lifted
its forelegs off the ground to eat from the branches of trees.
Stegosaurus bony plates on its back that could have been used for
protection, and possibly temperature regulation.
The largest of the plates were over 2
feet (60 centimeters) high.
Nobody is absolutely sure how the plates on the back were arranged, because
the plates have never been found still attached to the skeleton.
Some scientist believe the plates may have lay flat on the skin. However,
most scientists believe the plates stood erect on the back, and were arranged
in pairs or a zigzag pattern.
Stegosaurus also had pairs of spikes on its
tail which were about 3 feet (0.9 meters) long. There were several species
of Stegosaurus, and the number of tail spikes varied between Stegosaurus
species.
One unusual feature of Stegosaurus, which was first noted by
Othniel C. Marsh,
is that the animal had a large canal in the hip region of the spinal
chord, that could have accommodated a structure about 20 times larger than
the creature's brain. There has been a lot of speculation about this region,
including the idea that dinosaurs like Stegosaurus had a second "brain"
which controlled reflexes in the rear of the animal. A more recent idea
about this, is that canal accommodated a glycogen body, a structure which
is also found in some living birds.
Stegosaurus has been designated the official state fossil of
Colorado,
since
1982.
Stegosaurus was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived from 155 to 144 million years ago
Related Information & Resources
See Also
Stegosaurus Facts
Here is a summary of some of the key facts about Stegosaurus:
- Stegosaurus was a genus of dinosaur.
- "Stegosaurus" means "roof lizard". This name was chosen by Othniel C. Marsh in 1877.
- Stegosaurus was a member of the Ornithischia ("bird-hipped") order of dinosaurs. What this means, is that although Stegosaurus was not closely related to birds, it did have similarly shaped pelvic bones.
- Stegosaurus lived between about 155 million years ago and 144 million years ago, during the Jurassic period.
- Stegosaurus lived in North America and Europe.
- Stegosaurus was a herbivore (plant-eater).
- Stegosaurus was typically about 20 feet (6.1 meters) long, but some animals grew up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) long.
- Stegosaurus weighed about 2 tons.
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Stegosaurus Books
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By Evelyn Sibley Lampman
Purple House Press
Released: September 1st, 2007
Paperback (218 pages)
 | List Price: $12.00*
Lowest New Price: $10.91*
In Stock.*
*(As of 07:50 Pacific 28 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek- Manufacturer: Purple House Press
- Brand: Purple House Press
- ISBN: 1930900376
- EAN: 9781930900370
- PartNumber: Illustrated
Details:- Paperback
- Format: Illustrated
- Number of Pages: 218
- Author: Evelyn Sibley Lampman
- Publication Date: September 1st, 2007
- Release Date: September 1st, 2007
Physical Description:- Size: 8.42 Inches by 5.56 Inches by 0.58 Inches
- Weight: 0.6 Pounds
Features:- Used Book in Good Condition
Click here for more information |
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By Anna Obiols
B.E.S. Publishing
Released: September 1st, 2012
Paperback (36 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $7.99*
In Stock.*
*(As of 07:50 Pacific 28 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Stegosaurus: The Friendliest Dinosaur (Dinosaur Books)- Manufacturer: B.E.S.
- Brand: B.E.S. Publishing
- ISBNs: 143800107X, 9781438001074
- EAN: 9781438001074
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 36
- Author: Anna Obiols
- Publication Date: September 1st, 2012
- Release Date: September 1st, 2012
Physical Description:- Size: 9.3 Inches by 9.3 Inches by 0.4 Inches
- Weight: 0.44974301448 Pounds
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By Lois G. Grambling
Troll Communications
Released: February 1st, 1998
Paperback (32 pages)
 | List Price: $5.95*
Lowest Used Price: $0.93*
In Stock.*
*(As of 07:50 Pacific 28 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Can I Have a Stegosaurus, Mom? Can I? Please!?- Manufacturer: Troll Communications
- ISBN: 0816733872
- EAN: 9780816733873
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 32
- Author: Lois G. Grambling
- Publication Date: February 1st, 1998
- Release Date: February 1st, 1998
Physical Description:- Size: 6.3 Inches by 6.3 Inches by 0.3 Inches
- Weight: 0.3 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Thomas Kingsley Troupe
Picture Window Books
Released: February 1st, 2018
Paperback (24 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $7.95*
In Stock.*
*(As of 07:50 Pacific 28 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
A Stegosaurus Would NOT Make a Good Pirate (Dinosaur Daydreams)- Manufacturer: Picture Window Books
- Brand: Picture Window Books
- ISBN: 1515821331
- EAN: 9781515821335
Details:- Paperback
- Format: Picture Book
- Edition: Reprint
- Number of Pages: 24
- Author: Thomas Kingsley Troupe
- Publication Date: February 1st, 2018
- Release Date: February 1st, 2018
Physical Description:- Size: 10.8 Inches by 8.7 Inches by 0.2 Inches
- Weight: 0.26 Pounds
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By Dr. Paul Barrett
Natural History Museum
Released: September 1st, 2017
Hardcover (48 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $13.95*
In Stock.*
*(As of 07:50 Pacific 28 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Stegosaurus: An Extraordinary Specimen and the Secrets It Reveals- Manufacturer: Natural History Museum, London
- Brand: Natural History Museum
- ISBN: 0565093886
- EAN: 9780565093884
- PartNumber: unknown
Details:- Hardcover
- Number of Pages: 48
- Author: Dr. Paul Barrett
- Publication Date: September 1st, 2017
- Release Date: September 1st, 2017
Physical Description:- Size: 6.7499865 Inches by 8.999982 Inches by 0.499999 Inches
- Weight: 1.0 Pounds
Features:- FRANCES LINCOLN CHILDREN S
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By Charles Lennie
Capstone Classroom
Released: August 1st, 2016
Hardcover (24 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $7.95*
In Stock.*
*(As of 07:50 Pacific 28 Oct 2020 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Stegosaurus (Dinosaurs)- Manufacturer: Capstone Classroom
- Brand: Capstone Classroom
- ISBN: 1496609964
- EAN: 9781496609960
- PartNumber: unknown
Details:- Hardcover
- Edition: Reprint
- Number of Pages: 24
- Author: Charles Lennie
- Publication Date: August 1st, 2016
- Release Date: August 1st, 2016
Physical Description:- Size: 10.8 Inches by 8.8 Inches by 0.1 Inches
- Weight: 0.25 Pounds
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