The Stegosaurian Dinosaurs

Explore the fascinating world of stegosaurian dinosaurs in this comprehensive lecture by Dr. Susannah Maidment from the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. Delve into the unique characteristics of these Jurassic-era plant-eaters, including their distinctive rows of plates and spines, global distribution, and relationship to other armored dinosaurs like ankylosaurs. Learn about their physical attributes, such as their size comparable to modern rhinos, slow movement, and small teeth. Examine various hypotheses regarding the function of their iconic plates, considering roles in display and predator deterrence. Discover insights into stegosaurian fossils, body mass estimation techniques, dental structure, leg muscles, and comparisons with other dinosaurs like T. Rex. Investigate specific species such as Hesperosaurus and new stegosaurian finds from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation. Address questions about their presence in Antarctica, evolutionary relationships, and unique features like gizzards and shoulder spines. Gain knowledge about sampling bias in the fossil record and the challenges of studying stegosaurian hatchlings in this comprehensive 1-hour and 15-minute presentation.