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Dinosaurs: Huayangosaurus (Huayang Lizard)

 

Last updated: 8th Feb 2025

 

What is a Huayangosaurus?

 

Huayangosaurus was a fascinating, early stegosaur dinosaur that lived during the Middle Jurassic Period, about 165 million years ago in what is now China. It is famous for its double rows of plates along its back and the spikes on its tail. Although smaller than its later relatives, Huayangosaurus was well protected from predators with its armour and tail spikes!

 

 

How big was Huayangosaurus?

 

Huayangosaurus was a relatively small stegosaur. It grew to about 4.5 metres (15 feet) in length and was around 1.2 metres (4 feet) tall at the hips. Weighing up to 500 kilograms (about half a tonne), it was about as heavy as a horse but much lower to the ground!

 

 

Appearance

 

Huayangosaurus had a short neck, a small head, and a bulky, low-slung body. Along its back ran two rows of upright plates, which were shorter and more triangular than those of later stegosaurs. At the end of its tail, it had pairs of long, sharp spikes for defence. Uniquely, it also had small bony structures above its hips. Its strong, sturdy legs allowed it to move slowly but steadily through its Jurassic world.

 

Huayangosaurus

 

Generative AI Notification: Some elements of this image have been created or enhanced using AI technology. To find out how we create all our dinosaurs, click here.

 

 

What did Huayangosaurus eat?

 

Huayangosaurus was a plant-eater (herbivore). With its low-slung head and beak-like mouth, it was perfectly built for munching on ferns and low-growing plants. Its small, leaf-shaped teeth were ideal for chewing tough vegetation, but not for eating meat.

 

 

Where did Huayangosaurus live?

 

Fossils of Huayangosaurus have been found in the Sichuan Province of China. During the Jurassic Period, this region was warm and lush, with lots of plants, rivers, and forests for it to explore and eat from.

 

 

Interesting Facts

• Oldest Stegosaur: Huayangosaurus is one of the earliest known members of the stegosaur family.
• Small but armoured: Even though it was much smaller than Stegosaurus, it had plenty of plates and spikes for defence.
• Unique hip bones: Huayangosaurus had extra bony structures above its hips that are not found in later stegosaurs.
• First discovery: The first fossils were discovered in China in the 1970s.

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Huayangosaurus Facts Pronounced: hwa-YANG-oh-sore-us Name Means: "Huayang Lizard" (named after the ancient name for Sichuan, China, where it was found) Length: up to 4.5 m (15 feet) Height: up to 1.2 m (4 feet) at the hips Weight: about 500 kilograms (half a tonne) Diet: Herbivore (plants) Time: Middle Jurassic (about 165 million years ago) Fossils Found: Asia (China)

 

Which family of Dinosaurs did Huayangosaurus belong to?

 

Huayangosaurus was part of the Huayangosauridae family, an early group of stegosaurs. These dinosaurs are some of the oldest known plated dinosaurs, and they are the ancestors of famous relatives like Stegosaurus.

 

 

What other dinosaurs lived at the same time as Huayangosaurus?

 

During the Middle Jurassic Period, Huayangosaurus shared its world with many other dinosaurs, such as:

• Shunosaurus: A long-necked, plant-eating sauropod.
• Gasosaurus: A meat-eating theropod dinosaur.
• Datousaurus: Another large, long-necked herbivore.
• Xiaosaurus: A small, agile herbivorous dinosaur.

 

Huayangosaurus FAQ

 

Q1: What is a Huayangosaurus?

A1: Huayangosaurus was a fascinating, early stegosaur dinosaur that lived during the Middle Jurassic Period, about 165 million years ago in what is now China.

Q2: What does Huayangosaurus mean?

A2: Huayangosaurus means "Huayang lizard", named after the ancient Chinese region of Huayang.

Q3: Was Huayangosaurus a carnivore?

A3: No, Huayangosaurus was a plant-eater (herbivore).

Q4: How big were Huayangosaurus plates and spikes?

A4: Huayangosaurus plates were about 15 cm (6 inches) tall, while the tail spikes could be up to 45 cm (18 inches) long!

Q5: Did Huayangosaurus have feathers?

A5: No, Huayangosaurus had scaly skin and bony plates, not feathers.

Q6: Where did Huayangosaurus live?

A6: Huayangosaurus lived in what is now Sichuan Province, China.

Q7: Was Huayangosaurus fast?

A7: No, Huayangosaurus was a slow-moving dinosaur.

Q8: Did Huayangosaurus use its spikes for fighting?

A8: The spikes on Huayangosaurus tail could have been used for defence against predators!

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