Description
One of the most popular dinosaurs of all time, the Stegosaurus is quite distinctive with its row of large bony plates along its back, and the four fearsome spikes on its tail. These spikes are believed to have been used to protect Stegosaurus from attacking Jurassic predators such as Allosaurus.
- Scientific Name: Stegosaurus (Roofed Lizard)
- Characteristics: This Stegosaurus figure is glancing to its left with its tail tilted in the same direction, perhaps warning a predator not to get too close. It includes the dinosaur’s distinctive dorsal plates, tail spikes, and small armor-like throat scales.
- Size and Color: This hand-painted Stegosaurus toy measures 8 ½ inches long and just over 4 inches to the top its tallest plate. It’s about as wide as a sheet of loose leaf paper and as tall as a ceramic mug. Its coloration is a dark brown above with light grayish green and orange on its sides, with brown feet and dark brown toenails. Its plates are orange with dark brown markings.
- The Stegosaurus is part of the Wild Safari® Prehistoric World collection
- All of our products are Non-toxic and BPA free
History:
Stegosaurus was discovered and described in 1877 by Othniel Charles Marsh. Originally, its plates were thought to lay flat on the dinosaur’s back, like a turtle’s shell. Later, more complete findings showed that they stood up vertically on Stegosaurus’s back, though their exact arrangement is still something of a mystery. Though sometimes shown in a symmetrical double row, the most widely accepted current theory is that the plates were staggered in two alternating rows.
The function of these plates is something of a mystery. It was originally believed that Stegosaurus used them for defense, but due to their somewhat thin and fragile nature, this is unlikely. They may have been used to help regulate body temperature, or for display.
A recent, well-preserved Stegosaurus showed that these dinosaurs had additional bony protective armor on their chin and throat, called “gular armor”. Tiny bony structures called “ossicles” protected the underside of the animal’s neck, like chainmail armor.
- Size in cm: 20.5 L x 5 W x 9.6 H
- Size in inches: 8.07 L x 1.97 W x 3.78 H
- UPC: 095866003487
