Diracodon laticeps

†Diracodon laticeps is an extinct stegosaurid dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation of Wyoming, now often considered synonymous with Stegosaurus. Originally described by Marsh in 1881, this ornithischian herbivore bore dorsal plates and tail spikes. Its broad skull differentiates it from typical Stegosaurus specimens, though its validity as a separate taxon is debated.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Diracodon laticeps 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 Late Mesozoic Era

Diracodon laticeps lived during the Jurassic Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 161.5 to 145.0 million years ago.

One of the most iconic periods for dinosaurs. Giant sauropods like Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus roamed alongside predators like Allosaurus. Archaeopteryx, the earliest known bird, appeared. The Morrison Formation preserves an extraordinary fossil record from this time.