- 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
- The Stegosaurus was first discovered in 1877 north of Morriso, Colorado, USA.
- The Stegosaurus was given the scientific name Stegosaurus stenops by Othniel Charles Marsh.
- The name Stegosaurus means: “Roof Lizard”.
- The name Stegosaurus is pronounced: “STEG-uh-SAWR-us”.
- The Stegosaurus was part of a group of dinosaurs known as thyreophorans.
- They lived during the Late Jurassic period between 150 and 155 million years ago.
- Estimates put the weight of a Stegosaurus between 5 and 7 tons.
- Estimates put the length of a Stegosaurus up to 29 feet.
- The Stegosaurus was a herbivore who ate foliage near the ground.
- 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.
- The brain of a Stegosaurus was the size of a walnut.
- The Stegosaurus had between 17 and 22 protective plates on its back.
- The spikes on the tail of a Stegosaurus were up to three feet in length.
- There are three recognized species of stegosaurus and they are S. stenops, S. sulcatus and S. ungulatus.
- Paleontologists call the Stegosaurus’s spiked tail a Thagomizer, based on a 1982 Far Side cartoon.
- The Stegosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Iguanodon were the inspiration used to create Godzilla.
- The Stegosaurus is the state dinosaur of Colorado.
Stegosaurus Pictures
Close Up Of A Stegosaurus Skeleton Exhibit.Credit: Darren Naish
A Stegosaurus Skeleton Exhibit.Credit: Unknown
Diagram Of A Stegosaurus Skeleton.Credit: Unknown
Stegosaurus Fighting An Allosaurus.Credit: Unknown
Close Up Of A Stegosaurus Tail.Credit: Steve Lew / Flickr
Rendering Of A Stegosaurus.Credit: Heinrich Harder
Additional Resources on Stegosaurus
- Stegosaurus @ London Natural History Museum – Find more facts about the Stegosaurus on the London Natural History Museum website.
- Stegosaurus @ Britannica Encyclopedia – Some excellent Stegosaurus facts for kids on the Britannica Encyclopedia website.
- Stegosaurus @ U.S. Natural Park Service – Fun facts about the Stegosaurus on the U.S. National Park Service website.
- The Stegosaurus Plate Controversy – Learn about the controversy surrounding the evolutionary need of the Stegosaurus’s plates.