Kentrosaurus
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The stegosaurian Kentrosaurus is an herbivorous dinosaur that can grow up to 4m in length and weigh over 700kg. Like many other stegosaurian dinosaurs, Kentrosaurus is well protected from predators, with armour plates that run the length of its back and a pair of spikes that jut out from its shoulders. It also has a long, spiked tail that helps it to fend off attackers.
Discovery
Kentrosaurus was first discovered in 1909, when a team led by German palaeontologist Werner Janensch unearthed a series of fossils in the Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania. It was officially named by Edwin Hennig in 1915, translating to ‘sharp point lizard’ in reference to the spikes on its body.
Palaeoecology
Kentrosaurus lived during the Late Jurassic period, around 150-155m years ago. It inhabited Tanzania, which had a warm climate, many small lagoons and forested areas filled with lush vegetation for the dinosaur to feed on. Apex predator Allosaurus also lived during this period, preying on stegosaurian dinosaurs like Kentrosaurus.
Information
- Era
- Late Jurassic
- Family
- Stegosauridae
- Genus
- Kentrosaurus
- Height
- 1M
- Length
- 4M
- Weight
- 700Kg
- Diet
- Ground Palaeobotany
- Egg batch size
- 2 - 4
