Stegosaurus
The Stegosaurus was an armor-plated dinosaur that lived during the Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic Era which means he roamed the Earth about 150 million years ago. "Stegosaurus" means "roof lizard" refering to the plating.
The armor plates of the Stegosaurus were arrayed along the spine. Although they may have had some defensive purpose, it is more likely that they were used for temperature regulation as they are streaked with cavities that probably allowed for blood flow. No one is quite sure of the arrangement of the plates, as they were attached to the skin and not to the skeleton of the Stegosaurus. Some think they may have been in a double row.
The brain of the Stegosaurus was about the size of a golf-ball. It is assumed that their thought processes remained very simple, eating, drinking, defense and reproduction. Perhaps the most striking feature of the Stegosaurus was the long spikes that protruded from the tail. These spikes could be up to three feet long and acted like a mace or club. The tail was incredibly supple and muscular and the structure of the hind legs of the Stegosaurus made him capable of quick, decisive action. A single blow from the tail-spikes could easily kill a predator.
The Stegosaurus got to be as long as twenty feet and weighed up to two and a half tons. He was a plant eater as exhibited by his toothless beak and small weak cheek-teeth. Although his arms were shorter than his legs, Stegosaurus walked, or more likely ambled on all fours. Fossils of Stegosaurus have been found in western North America.
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W.J. Rayment
Interesting Link: Stegosaurus Woodkit
