The Armored Stegosaur of China
Meet Tuojiangosaurus, a fascinating armored dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period, approximately 160 million years ago!
| Meaning | Tuo River lizard [Tuo-jiango-saurus] |
| Pronunciation | too-oh-JEE-ang-oh-sore-us |
| When: | Late Jurassic (about 161–155 million years ago) |
| Where: | Asia (present-day China) |
| What: | Stegosaur (quadrupedal herbivorous) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 2–3 metric tons |
| Length: | Approximately 6–7 meters (20–23 feet) |
| Diet: | Herbivorous (likely fed on ferns, cycads, and other low vegetation) |
| Discovered: | First described by Dong Zhiming in 1977 |
Found in what is now China, Tuojiangosaurus was a member of the stegosaur group, characterized by its distinctive rows of large, bony plates and spikes along its back and tail.
These features provided Tuojiangosaurus with formidable defense against predators.
It had a small head with sharp teeth for chewing plants, indicating it was a herbivore.
Imagine Tuojiangosaurus lumbering through lush Jurassic forests, its armored body gleaming in the sunlight as it browsed on ferns and other vegetation.