Stegosaurus, Dinosaur, Stegosaurus armatus, Jurassic herbivore, Museum Quality, Realistic, Hand Painted, Design, Replica, Toy, 16 Inches CWG154 BB30

A large, slow moving plant-eater, Stegosaurus would have defended itself from predators like Allosaurus and Ceratosaurus with its powerful spiked tail. The bony plates along its back were embedded in the skin of the animal, not attached to its skeleton, which is why in most fossil finds the plates are separated from the body. When O C Marsh described the first fossil of a Stegosaurus, he concluded that the plates would have lain flat on its back. After finding a specimen that had been covered with mud, which had held the plates in place, Marsh realized that they stood vertically, alternately on either side of the spine. This Stegosaurus at the Carnegie Museum shows the plates staggered along the back, as most paleontologists believe they were arranged. Stegosaurus is a plant eating dinosaur with plates on its back and spikes on its tail. Stegosaurus ungulatus is a species of ornithischian dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of North America, found in the Morrison Formation. Stegosaurus means €œroofed lizard,€ a reference to its plates. The function of these plates has been debated by paleontologists. One theory is that the plates contained blood vessels, to help regulate body temperature. Another idea is the plates were used for display to attract mates, like colorful feathers on a bird or antlers on a deer. The plates also could have been used for protection from predators. Since the plates were not directly attached to the bones of the skeleton, they were easily separated from the body after death. Massive spikes on the end of its tail were used in defense against predators. At Dinosaur, many isolated plates and spikes have been found throughout the Carnegie Quarry.   Collectible Wildlife Gifts is the market leader in providing high quality, realistic Wildlife Designs of all types! Every one of our items is heavily inspected for quality craftsmanship and authenticity. Our products make great gifts for your family and friends! Additionally, our lifelike animal figurines and plush make for great displays and educational sets. We are happy to serve our wide range of clientele from parents to educators, gift shop owners and many more! Our team works hard to ensure you get a great Designs. All products from Collectible Wildlife Gifts are checked for quality to ensure you receive the order in perfect condition. From plush sharks to educational animal growths cycle we offer the perfect toy or gift for any occasion. Our products have been ordered by educational groups, aquariums, zoos, and more. Great customer service is guaranteed when you order from Collectible Wildlife Gifts, we want you to love your toy and have a simple ordering process, we are happy to assist with inquiries!