Stegosaurus Facts for Kids

A Picture of a Stegosaurus
  • Species Type: Stegosaurus stenops
  • Type of Dinosaur: Thyreophora
  • Period: Late Jurassic
  • Diet: Foliage (herbivorous)
  • Life Span: Between 75 and 100 years
  • Length: Up to 29 feet
  • Weight: Between 5 to 7 tons

17 Stegosaurus Facts for Kids

  1. The Stegosaurus was first discovered in 1877 north of Morriso, Colorado, USA.
  2. The Stegosaurus was given the scientific name Stegosaurus stenops by Othniel Charles Marsh.
  3. The name Stegosaurus means: “Roof Lizard”.
  4. The name Stegosaurus is pronounced: “STEG-uh-SAWR-us”.
  5. The Stegosaurus was part of a group of dinosaurs known as thyreophorans.
  6. They lived during the Late Jurassic period between 150 and 155 million years ago.
  7. Estimates put the weight of a Stegosaurus between 5 and 7 tons.
  8. Estimates put the length of a Stegosaurus up to 29 feet.
  9. The Stegosaurus was a herbivore who ate foliage near the ground.
  10. The Stegosaurus wasn’t an easy meal for predators. The plates on its back and spiked tail of a Stegosaurus were a excellent way to defend its against predators.
  11. The brain of a Stegosaurus was the size of a walnut.
  12. The Stegosaurus had between 17 and 22 protective plates on its back.
  13. The spikes on the tail of a Stegosaurus were up to three feet in length.
  14. There are three recognized species of stegosaurus and they are S. stenops, S. sulcatus and S. ungulatus.
  15. Paleontologists call the Stegosaurus’s spiked tail a Thagomizer, based on a 1982 Far Side cartoon.
  16. The Stegosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Iguanodon were the inspiration used to create Godzilla.
  17. The Stegosaurus is the state dinosaur of Colorado.

Additional Resources on Stegosaurus