Changdusaurus laminaplacodus

† Changdusaurus laminaplacodus is a stegosaurian dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Qamdo (Changdu), Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Its species name references its distinctive plate-like dorsal elements, which were likely used for thermoregulation or display. A quadruped herbivore, it browsed low vegetation in a warm, humid Jurassic landscape. It is among the earliest known stegosaurs from the Tibetan Plateau.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Changdusaurus laminaplacodus was a plant-eating dinosaur. Herbivores typically fed on ferns, cycads, conifers, and other vegetation available during their era. Many herbivorous dinosaurs developed specialized teeth and digestive systems for processing tough plant material.

Time Period

Jurassic Middle Mesozoic Era

Changdusaurus laminaplacodus lived during the Jurassic Middle period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 174,7 to 161,5 million years ago.

Dinosaur diversity continued to increase, with the evolution of large sauropods and diverse theropods. Stegosaurs first appeared, and the supercontinent Pangaea was breaking apart.