Stegosaurus Facts For Kids
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Stegosaurus is one of the most famous dinosaurs in the world. With its distinctive plates on its back, it is immediately recognizable. In this article, we will learn some stegosaurus facts for kids.
What is a Stegosaurus?
Stegosaurus was a dinosaur that lived on Earth about 150 million years ago. It was an herbivorous dinosaur, meaning it only ate plants. It lived during the Late Jurassic period, and its fossils have been found in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Physical Appearance
One of the most striking features of Stegosaurus is its back plates. These were bony plates embedded in its skin that ran down the dinosaur’s back. They could be raised or lowered, and scientists believe that the plates were used for thermoregulation, display, or defense.
Stegosaurus also had spikes on its tail, known as the thagomizer. These spikes were used to defend against predators or for fighting against other dinosaurs.
Size
Stegosaurus was about 30 feet long and weighed around 5,000 pounds. That’s about the size of a bus!
Diet
As mentioned earlier, Stegosaurus was an herbivore. It had a small head and a mouth filled with hundreds of tiny teeth, which it used to chew and grind up plants.
Intelligence
While we don’t know much about the intelligence of dinosaurs, scientists believe that Stegosaurus had a relatively small brain compared to its body size.
Extinction
Like all dinosaurs, Stegosaurus went extinct about 66 million years ago. There are a few theories about what caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, but scientists believe that a massive asteroid impact may have been the culprit.
In conclusion, Stegosaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur with distinctive plates on its back and spikes on its tail. It lived during the Late Jurassic period and went extinct about 66 million years ago. We hope you enjoyed learning some stegosaurus facts for kids!