Stegosaurus is a dinosaur that lived around 155 million years ago—during the Jurassic Period—in the Western portion
of North America and parts of Europe. It was an herbivorous quadruped known for its rounded back and its double row of back plates that end with a double
pair of spikes on this dinosaur’s tail.
This dinosaur was first discovered in 1877 by Othniel Charles Marsh during the Great Dinosaur Rush—also known as
the Bone Wars. Because this dinosaur had armored plates that seemed shingled, it was given the name Stegosaurus,
which means “roofed lizard”.
Stegosaurus was alive around 150 million years ago in the late Jurassic period.
The late Jurassic period is a geological period that spanned from 163.5 to 145 million years ago.
During the Jurassic Period dinosaurs became the dominant animals on land. Controlling the skies
were winged reptiles known as pterosaurs, and giant, predatory reptiles swam in the oceans:
the Jurassic Period truly was a time in which the reptiles ruled Earth.