In Depth
Scutellosaurus was a relatively small ornithischian dinosaur that may have been primarily bipedal, though still having fore limbs developed enough for providing quadrupedal support for activities such as feeding. Scutellosaurus also had a covering of armoured scutes along its back that provided flexible yet tough armour to give some defence against the teeth and claws of predators. This armour combined with the ornithishcian hip arrangement identifies Scutellosaurus as one of the first thyreophoran dinosaurs, better known as the armoured dinosaurs. Future descendants of primitive thyreophoran dinosaurs like Scutellosaurus would go on to produce popular giants like Stegosaurus and Ankylosaurus.
Scutellosaurus is one of a growing number of dinosaur genera discovered in the Kayenta Formation, with two genera of particular note being Megapnosaurus and Dilophosaurus, both possible predators of Scutellosaurus.
Further Reading
– A primitive ornithischian dinosaur from the Kayenta Formation of Arizona. – Museum of Northern Arizona Bulletin 53:1-61 – E. H. Colbert – 1981.
