Tuojiangosaurus is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic Period, around 163 to 157 million years ago. Its name means “Tuo River lizard,” named after the location where it was found in Sichuan Province, China.
**What Does Tuojiangosaurus Look Like?**
Tuojiangosaurus was a large dinosaur, about 6.5 meters, or 21 feet long, and weighing around 2.8 tons. It looked similar to the well-known North American dinosaur, Stegosaurus.
It had some special features:
– A narrow and low head
– A bulky body
– Short legs and arms
The teeth were strong and designed for chewing plants, which was perfect since Tuojiangosaurus was a herbivore, meaning it only ate plants.
One of its distinctive features was the double row of plates on its back. These plates started rounded at the front and became more triangular near the back. Unlike Stegosaurus, the plates were arranged parallel to each other.
Tuojiangosaurus also had spikes on the end of its tail. These spikes, which are referred to as a “thagomizer,” were likely used for defense against predators.
**Discovery and Naming**
The dinosaur was discovered in 1974 while workers were building a dam in Zigong, Sichuan. It was named and described in 1977.
The name “Tuojiangosaurus multispinus” reflects its many spines, with “multispinus” meaning “many spines” in Latin.
**Where Can You See Tuojiangosaurus Today?**
There are several mounted skeletons of Tuojiangosaurus displayed in different museums. One can be seen in Chongqing, and casts are displayed in museums in London and Bolton, England.
**Classification**
Tuojiangosaurus belongs to a group of dinosaurs known as stegosaurids, which includes other plated dinosaurs. Scientists are still studying its exact place in the stegosaur family tree, but it has been found to be closely related to other dinosaurs like Huayangosaurus.
**Diet and Lifestyle**
Tuojiangosaurus fed mainly on low plants. Some scientists even suggest that other dinosaurs, like Chialingosaurus, might have been its younger ones.
In summary, Tuojiangosaurus was a fascinating dinosaur from the Jurassic Period, known for its distinctive plates and spikes. It adds to our understanding of the diverse types of dinosaurs that roamed the Earth millions of years ago.