Scutellosaurus lawleri

† Scutellosaurus lawleri is the only recognized species of Scutellosaurus, a small Early Jurassic thyreophoran from the Kayenta Formation of Arizona. Its lightly built frame and armor rows illustrate the origins of ankylosaur body armor.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Scutellosaurus lawleri 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 Early Mesozoic Era

Scutellosaurus lawleri lived during the Jurassic Early period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 201,4 to 174,7 million years ago.

After the Triassic-Jurassic extinction, dinosaurs rapidly diversified and became the dominant land vertebrates. Early sauropods and theropods began to evolve larger body sizes.