Stegosaurus

Creature information
Scientific name :	Stegosaurus stenops
Time period :	Late Jurassic
Primary diet :	Herbivore
In the documentary

Two Stegosaurus mating

Stegosaurus is a genus of armored stegosaurid dinosaur. They lived during the Late Jurassic period 150 million years ago in what is now western North America. In 2006, a specimen of Stegosaurus was announced from Portugal, showing that they were present in Europe as well. Due to its distinctive tail spikes and back plates, Stegosaurus is one of the most recognizable dinosaurs.  Stegosaurus grew up to 10 meters (33 ft) in length. Some form of armor appears to have been necessary, as Stegosaurus species coexisted with large predatory theropod dinosaurs, such as Ceratosaurusand Allosaurus.

In When Dinosaurs Roamed America

In the late Jurassic segment, a Stegosaurus is first seen digging for water like modern African elephants, but fails. Later, a male Stegosaurus meets a female and tries to display. Then, a Ceratosaurus comes out of nowhere, and attacks the pair, but the male uses his tail spikes to drive off the predator. After that, he tries to mate with the female, but she rejects his advances. Despite this, she allows him to stay with her for protection and when the time comes that she's ready to mate. Eventually, the female decides that he is a healthy individual and the two mate.

Trivia

The Stegosaurus tail spikes

Stegosaurus' tail spikes are sometimes called a "thagomizer".

Stegosaurus is often known as the elephant of the Jurassic, along with Apatosaurus, because its plates work in the same way as an elephant's huge ears when it comes to controlling body temperature.

The narrator says that Stegosaurus is the largest dinosaur of its kind in the world. Meaning that it's the largest member of the stegosaurid family.

Gallery