Sauropelta

• Sauropelta was a nodosaur--a type of armored dinosaur.

• The name Sauropelta means "shielded reptile," from the many large, conelike lumps of bone--some almost as big as dinner plates--on its head, neck, back, and tail.

• The larger lumps of bone on Sauropelta were interspersed with smaller, fist-sized bony studs.

• Sauropelta had a row of sharp spikes along each side of its body, from just behind the eyes to the tail. The spikes decreased in size toward the tail.

• Sauropelta was about 25ft (7.5m) long, including the tail, and its bulky body and heavy, bony armor meant it probably weighed almost 3 tons.

• The armor of Sauropelta was flexible, almost like lumps of metal set into thick leather, so the dinosaur could twist and turn, but was unable to run fast.

• Strong, sturdy, pillarlike legs supported Sauropelta's great weight.

• Sauropelta probably defended itself by crouching down to protect its softer belly, or swinging its head to jab at an enemy with its long neck spines.

• Using its beaklike mouth, Sauropelta probably plucked its low-growing plant food.

STAR FACT
Sauropelta lived 110-100 mya, in present-day Montana and Wyoming.

By: Parker, Steve, Dinosaurs