15040 Stegosaurus

The huge boney plates on the Stegosaurus' back are pretty impressive. Most of the time, though, the herbivore is a peaceful soul. But if you disturb it while it's grazing or annoy it, things might get uncomfortable. It may lash out with its imposing spiked tail. So you'd be better off making friends with the nine-meter-long prehistoric giant!

The Stegosaurus is easy to spot from afar, and not only because it's so huge: the fiery red double row of boney curved armored plates on its back is unmistakable. It forms a beautiful contrast to its yellowish lizard skin. With its head lowered, it trudges across the meadows, always holding its long tail up a little. Its favorite thing to do is graze. That's what a Stegosaurus does all day long because it takes a while for the 4.5-ton herbivore to eat enough to keep going. Fancy a munch?