When was Stegosaurus first described and by whom?
Othniel Charles Marsh described the first Stegosaurus fossils in 1877. Arthur Lakes found these initial bones near Morrison, Colorado.
Questions about Stegosaurus
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the correct arrangement of Stegosaurus plates according to modern science?
Most S. stenops specimens show plates arranged in two staggered rows rather than pairs. This configuration differs from early interpretations that placed paired plates wide above the base of ribs.
Which species serves as the type species for Stegosaurus today?
The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature replaced Stegosaurus armatus with S. stenops as the type species in 2013. Stegosaurus stenops meaning narrow-faced roof lizard was originally described by Marsh in 1887 from Marshall Felch's Garden Park collection.
How fast did Stegosaurus grow compared to other dinosaurs like Kentrosaurus?
A 2013 study concluded Kentrosaurus had faster growth rates than Stegosaurus contradicting general rules about larger dinosaurs growing quicker. Juveniles lack fusion between scapula and coracoid plus lower hind limb bones indicating immaturity until maturity.
Where did Stegosaurus live during the Late Jurassic period?
Stegosaurus lived within the semiarid Morrison Formation environment featuring distinct wet and dry seasons plus flat floodplains. Animal fossils found alongside Stegosaurus include bivalves snails ray-finned fishes frogs salamanders turtles lizards crocodylomorphs pterosaurs and numerous dinosaur species.
What price did the nearly complete Stegosaurus skeleton named Apex sell for at auction?
On the 17th of July 2024 a nearly complete twenty-seven foot skeleton nicknamed Apex fetched forty-four point six million dollars at Sotheby's auction New York City. This sale marked the highest price ever paid for a fossil.