Dacentrurus
"Very Pointed Lizard"

The first stegosaur to be discovered. Dacentrurus was rather primitive, with primitive vertebrae and long forelimbs. It is also among the largest of the stegosaurs. There are a number of specilised features in the vertebrae and hip that prevent from being an actual ancestor. As with many early-named European dinosaurs, the species seems to be something of a garbage taxon for fragmentary remains of a generally similiar type, as it is unlikely that one species would persist for a period of some 10 or 12 million years or so. Some remains suggest individuals of 10 meters in length, larger than the biggest Stegosaurus.

It had no plates, only spikes.

Type Species Information
After which the Genus is named

Dacentrus armatus
Remains: Postcrania (1 nearly complete), 4 sacra, femora

Other Species

Remains: Partian femur

© 2002 Gavin Rymill

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