Huayangosaurus Characteristics

Huayangosaurus measured 14 feet (4.5 metres) in length, weighed 500 kilograms and was much smaller than its famous relative. Like many other stegosaurians it had plates lining its back, and a spiked tail. Two large spikes where above its hips, and may have been used for deterring an attack from above (considering as it was a fairly short in height compared to later stegosaurians). It had vein-like cavities in the bony plates on its back which may have helped to regulate its body temperature or change the colour of the plates to deter predators or attract mates.

Huayangosaurus had a long slender head, short front legs and longer hind legs, helping its head to easily reach the ground, as it looked for plant life to munch on. It had a small skull with primitive teeth. It has also been found that the skull of the Huayangosaurus might have had a small opening in each half of the lower jaw and in front of each eye. Both these openings were not found in the dinosaurs, which belonged to the later era like stegosaurs.

Huayangosaurus lived in the land of rivers, lush vegetation and lakes. Scientists have found that it would have been a plant eater (herbivore) with the help of its teeth.

As it is the most basal stegosaurian, it is placed in within its own family 'Huayangosauridae'. It is also morphologically distinct from later (stegosaurid) forms. Its skull was broader and had premaxillary teeth in the front of its mouth. All later stegosaurians lost these teeth.

Huayangosaurus remains from twelve inidvidual animals were recovered from the Dashanpu Quarry near Zigong in Sichuan, and named by Dong Zhiming.