Scutellosaurus | 3D Dinopedia

Scutellosaurus

Period of life:

196 million years ago

Period:

Jurassic period

Habitat:

Savannas and plains

Taxonomy:

Thyreophorans

Height:

0.3 m

Countries:

Jurassic period Scutellosaurus | 3D Dinopedia

Scutellosaurus (196 million years ago)

What the name means: “lizard with small shields”.

Scutellosaurus is a remarkable representative of ancient fauna that lived on our planet in the early Jurassic period, about 196 million years ago. This dinosaur inhabited the territory of modern Arizona, USA. It belongs to the suborder Thyreophora, known for their armored body. However, Scutellosaurus differs from its later and larger relatives by its more primitive structure. Its size was relatively small — the length was only 1.2 meters, and the skull length was just 9 cm.

Imagine a medium-sized lizard covered with many small shields, quickly running across the dry plains of the Jurassic period. This is what one of the first armored dinosaurs looked like. Unlike modern lizards, which run close to the ground, Scutellosaurus moved briskly on two legs, similar to small mammals, skillfully maintaining balance with the help of its long tail. If threatened, the nimble dinosaur could press itself to the ground, exposing only its shield-covered back, similar to a hedgehog.

Scutellosaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur. Its jaws were equipped with simple leaf-shaped teeth, similar to those of a modern iguana, which it used to tear off leaves and plant shoots. The shields covering its body provided reliable protection from predators. Thus, Scutellosaurus was an amazing creature, combining features of lizards and dinosaurs. Its unique appearance and behavior make it one of the most vivid representatives of the early Jurassic fauna.

Other animals