Kentrosaurus

Kentrosaurus aethiopicus is a member of the Stegosaurus group. They lived in the Upper Jurassic 161 to 145 million years ago and were plant-eaters. Like Brachiosaurus, the fossils of Kentrosaurus were excavated at Tendaguru Hill. The hallmark of this dinosaur are the paired spines along its back and tail. The neck and chest are covered with bony plates. It is as yet unclear what function these bony structures had –the spines could have been defensive weapons or served some communication purposes. They could also have made an impressive display during the mating ritual. It is also thought that the bony plates might have helped to regulate body temperature.