Stegosaurus Behavior
The Stegosaurus or roof lizard was a prehistoric armed dinosaur that dated back to the Jurassic period. Stegosaurii roamed the earth between 150 and 145 million years ago in what is now western North America and possibly Europe as well. The striking feature of the stegosaurus was its arched back and 17 unusual upright plates that ran the length of the spine to the tail. The plates were in a double row formation and the two pairs of spikes extended longitudinally from the end of the tail. |
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The stegosaurus was large and heavily built with short fore limbs because of which its head was held low to the ground while the tail stood stiff and high in the air. The precise function of the spikes and plates are a subject of much debate. One theory suggests that the spikes were a defense mechanism while the plates served a dual purpose of defense as well as the role of a radiator to dissipate body heat. But an argument to the contrary concludes the plates were too delicate and improperly positioned to be of use for defense. Furthermore the arrangement left the animal’s sides vulnerable and unprotected. But the theory of their role of a radiator is substantiated by the fact that blood vessels ran through grooves in the plates and exposed to circulating air would have cooled the blood. This theory too has been debated in the belief that the structure of the animal was such that required no special cooling arrangement.
The stegosaurus was herbivorous. Tracks were discovered which suggest that stegosaurii lived and moved in familial packs of multi-aged herds with babies, very similar to the modern elephant. Therefore, many scientists believe that stegosaurus behavior could be discovered by further observing and studying elephant herds.
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