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Characteristics: Stegosaurus was an unusual looking herbivorous dinosaur found in the Morrison Formation of the Rocky Mountain West. Two rows of erect, alternating plates run from the back of the neck to the tail. Once thought to serve as a protection, these plates are now believed to have been skin covered and contained blood vessels. They were probably used in temperature regulation. The end of the tail of Stegosaurus was armored with four spikes used for protection. In life the spikes would have been even longer, as they were encased in a fingernail-like covering. Wit Stegosaurus' short front legs and longer, muscular back legs, it could probably have rotated back and forth easily to keep the spikes directly in front of a circling Allosaurus or other predator.
UW Department of Geology and Geophysics
Wyoming State Geological Survey
UW Geological Museum
Dept. 3006
1000 E. University Ave.
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY 82071
Director/Contact:
Brent Breithaupt
(307) 766-2646
Email: uwgeoms@uwyo.edu