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Post by HRH Queen Talira on Aug 3, 2018 10:05:32 GMT
With two rows of plates lining its back and a tail armed with a set of sharp spikes, Stegosaurus is one of the most easily recognised dinosaurs. Whilst the spiked tail was very clearly a weapon, palaeontologists still aren't sure of the exact function of the plates. When this dinosaur was first discovered in 1877, it was thought that the plates lay flat on the back like tiles on a roof, hence the name, which means "Roofed lizard". Currently, there are three theories to explain the function of the plates.
Theory 1: Armour Having a big row of plates sticking out of your back would make it difficult for predators to bite this vulnerable area of the body. However, the main problem with this theory is the fact that the plates aren't attached to the skeleton. Therefore, if a predator could get close enough, it could rip the plates off.
Theory 2: Temperature control The plates were covered in a thin layer of skin which was packed full of blood vessels. By standing in the sun, the plates could absorb heat. The warmed blood would then be circulated around the rest of the body. If the dinosaur was too hot, it could stand with its plates in the wind to cool down.
Theory 3: Display Much like a peacock with its colourful tail, male Stegosaurus may have used their plates as part of a sexual display to attract a mate. Another possibility is that the plates were used as part of a threat display to frighten away predators.
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Post by magicmuggle01 on Aug 3, 2018 10:20:58 GMT
I wonder if all 3 of these theories could have some credence.
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Post by HRH Queen Talira on Aug 4, 2018 2:44:55 GMT
I'm leaning towards a combination of theories 2 and 3. We don't know for certain if Stegosaurus was cold-blooded, but if it was, it could possibly have used its plates in the same way that we use solar panels. Blood running through the plates would quickly absorb the sun's heat before travelling through the rest of the body. Then, once warmed, the dinosaur could go about its daily business. If it was too hot, standing with its plates in the wind allowed the blood to lose heat. It's like carrying your own heating/air conditioning system on your back.
I can also easily see the plates being used for display. Many animals today use parts of their bodies to make themselves look more intimidating if they feel threatened. Cats, for instance, will puff up their tails and make their fur stand on end. It's possible that, if threatened by a predator, Stegosaurus may have flushed its plates with blood, turning them bright red. If this kind of display didn't work, that's when the tail spikes would have been used. Making the plates a bright colour may also have been used as part of a sexual display. Males with big, brightly-coloured plates may have been more attractive to females during the breeding season.
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skieswanne
T-Rex egg
Guardian of the Ladinian
Posts: 15
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Post by skieswanne on Nov 17, 2018 12:40:32 GMT
I also lean towards theory 2.
I mean, even warm-blooded animals might find it advantageous to warm up faster when the sun rises.
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