The most recognizable features of Stegosaurus are its dermal plates, which consisted of 17 separate flat plates. These were highly modified osteoderms (bony-cored scales), similar to those seen in crocodiles and many lizards today.
They were not directly attached to the animal's skeleton, instead arising from the skin. The largest plates were found over the animal's hips and measured 60 centimetres (2 ft) wide and 60 centimetres tall.
The large plates on the stegosaurus' back had many blood vessels flowing through them. They think these plates were used to regulate the stegosaurus' body temperature by absorbing or radiating heat.
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