Height: 14 feet (4.3 meters)

Length: 28 feet (8.5 meters)

Weight: 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg)

Period: Late Jurassic

Stegosaurus is the only plated dinosaur ever found in western North America. The large triangular plates that ran along its back were probably arranged in a double row, and its tail was armed with four long spikes. The plates may have served the purpose of regulating Stegosaurus' internal temperature, dissipating heat when turned from the sun, absorbing heat when faced into the sun. The size of plates may also have made Stegosaurus appear larger to predators and served to deter them from attacking.

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Dinosaur pictures by Joe Tucciarone, http://members.aol.com/Dinoplanet/dinosaur.html, used by permission.