Dacentrurus armatus

†Dacentrurus armatus is the type species of Dacentrurus, a large stegosaurid from the Late Jurassic of the Iberian Peninsula. Reaching lengths estimated up to 8–9 m, this armored herbivore featured paired dorsal plates and a spike-armed tail. Fossil material from Spain and Portugal has helped establish the anatomy of European stegosaurs.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Dacentrurus armatus 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

Dacentrurus armatus 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.