Types of Dinosaurs.
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Scelidosaurus

Mounted Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton on display in a museum hall
Gary Todd, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pronunciation
skel-EE-doe-SAWR-us
Name means
Ribbed Lizard
Diet
Herbivore
Posture
Quadrupedal
Period
Early Jurassic
Length
13 feet (4 meters)
Height
5 feet (1.5 meters)

Order: Ornithischia · Suborder: Thyreophora · Family: Scelidosauridae

Found in America, England, and China, Scelidosaurusis one of the earliest known thyreophorans. It was an armoreddinosaur thought by some to be capable of making brief runs onits two hind feet.

Triceratops skull showing the three horns and large bony frill
Photo: Vicpeters, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

More Jurassic-period dinosaurs →

Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.

Frequently asked questions

What does Scelidosaurus mean?

The name Scelidosaurus means “Ribbed Lizard”. It is pronounced skel-EE-doe-SAWR-us.

When did Scelidosaurus live?

Scelidosaurus lived during the Early Jurassic.

Was Scelidosaurus a carnivore or a herbivore?

Scelidosaurus was a herbivore.

How big was Scelidosaurus?

Scelidosaurus was about 13 feet (4 meters) long, around 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall.

Related dinosaurs

Other dinosaurs from the Scelidosauridae family.

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