Dacentrurus Facts
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 3m |
| Length | 8m |
| Weight | 4 tonnes |
| Speed | 15 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Stegosaur |
| Location | England |

| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 3m |
| Length | 8m |
| Weight | 4 tonnes |
| Speed | 15 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Stegosaur |
| Location | England |
Dacentrurus was a formidable stegosaur that roamed the landscapes of Late Jurassic Europe around 155 to 133 million years ago. This impressive herbivorous dinosaur measured approximately 8 metres in length and stood about 3 metres tall at the hip, making it one of the larger members of the stegosaur family. Its fossils were first discovered in 1875 in a clay pit in Swindon, England, initially named Omosaurus before being renamed in 1902 due to naming conflicts.
Like other stegosaurs, Dacentrurus possessed the characteristic double row of plates and spikes running along its back and tail. However, what made this dinosaur particularly distinctive was its weaponry - especially the fearsome arrangement of long, sharp spikes at the end of its tail, which gave the creature its name meaning 'very sharp tail'. These tail spikes, known as a thagomizer, would have been formidable defensive weapons against predators.
As a herbivore, Dacentrurus used its small head and beak-like mouth to strip vegetation from low-growing plants, ferns, and cycads. Its teeth were small and leaf-shaped, perfect for processing tough plant material. The dinosaur's front legs were considerably shorter than its hind legs, giving it a distinctive arched posture that positioned its head close to the ground for efficient feeding.
Dacentrurus lived in the warm, humid environments of Late Jurassic Europe, sharing its habitat with other dinosaurs including the massive sauropod Diplodocus and various theropod predators. The discovery of this stegosaur in England has provided valuable insights into European dinosaur diversity during this fascinating period of Earth's history.
Dacentrurus was characterised by its double row of defensive plates and spikes along its back, culminating in an especially formidable set of long, sharp tail spikes. Its front legs were notably shorter than its hind legs, creating a distinctive arched profile with its head positioned low to the ground.
Dacentrurus likely lived in small herds, using its powerful tail spikes as defensive weapons when threatened by predators. It would have spent most of its time with its head down, browsing on low vegetation and using its beak-like mouth to strip leaves and fronds from plants.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Ornithischia |
| Family | Stegosauridae |
| Genus | Dacentrurus |
Dacentrurus was first described by Richard Owen in 1875. The original fossils were discovered at Kimmeridge Clay, Swindon, England.