### Sauroplites: A Herbivorous Dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous
**What is Sauroplites?**
Sauroplites is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 125 to 112 million years ago. This dinosaur was a herbivore, meaning it ate plants.
**Discovery of Sauroplites**
The first fossils of Sauroplites were discovered in 1930 by a Swedish paleontologist named Anders Birger Bohlin. He found these remains in Inner Mongolia, China, during an expedition.
In 1953, Bohlin officially named the dinosaur Sauroplites scutiger. The name comes from Greek words: “sauros” meaning lizard and “hoplites” meaning armed foot soldier. The specific name “scutiger” refers to its shield-like body armor.
**Understanding Its History**
At first, researchers accepted Sauroplites as a valid dinosaur type. However, later studies showed that the fossils were quite incomplete, which led some scientists to doubt its classification.
In 2014, a paleontologist named Victoria Megan Arbour discovered a unique feature in Sauroplites’ body armor that confirmed it as its own species. The gathering of bone plates on its back formed rosettes— a special pattern that distinguished this dinosaur from others.
**What Did Sauroplites Look Like?**
Sauroplites had large, flat bony plates on its body that were about ten centimeters wide. Some of these plates were oval-shaped and could be much longer—up to forty centimeters. The dinosaur’s body was armoured, which helped protect it from predators.
**Where Does Sauroplites Fit in the Family Tree?**
Sauroplites is part of a group of dinosaurs called ankylosaurs. These dinosaurs are known for their heavy armour and club-like tails. However, some studies suggest that Sauroplites could belong to a different family called nodosaurids due to unique features in its pelvic armor.
In 2018, scientists further explored this idea and suggested that Sauroplites belongs to a group of early nodosaurids, which includes other dinosaurs like Dongyangopelta and Mymoorapelta.
**Conclusion**
Sauroplites was a fascinating herbivorous dinosaur with unique body armor that helped it survive in its environment. Its discovery and study continue to provide insight into the diversity of dinosaurs that existed millions of years ago.