Thyreophora facts for kids
Thyreophora is a group of dinosaurs known as the 'armoured dinosaurs'. Their name means 'shield-bearer', which perfectly describes them! These amazing creatures were part of a larger group called ornithischian dinosaurs. They lived a long, long time ago and had special body armour to protect themselves.
There were different kinds of Thyreophora, each with unique features:
- Some early Thyreophora walked on two legs, like Scutellosaurus and Scelidosaurus. They were plant-eaters and had light armour.
- The Ankylosaur group included:
- Ankylosaurids: These dinosaurs were heavily armoured from their heads all the way to their tails. Many even had a big, bony club at the end of their tails!
- Nodosaurids: Unlike Ankylosaurids, Nodosaurids did not have a tail club. Instead, their bodies were covered with sharp spikes and bumpy, bony plates.
- The Stegosaur group included:
- Stegosaurids: These dinosaurs are famous for their small heads and the large, upright plates and spikes along their backs and tails. They lived during the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous periods.
- Huayangosaurids: This was an early group of Stegosaurs. They lived in China during the Middle Jurassic period.
Meet Acanthopholis
Acanthopholis was an armoured dinosaur that lived about 100 million years ago, during the Lower Cretaceous period. It was about 15 feet (4.5 meters) long. This dinosaur walked on all four legs.
Its body was covered in many oval-shaped armour plates, stretching from its neck to its tail. The name 'spiny scales' describes its tough, protective armour.
See also
In Spanish: Thyreophora para niños
