Stegosaurus Coloring Pages

The plates on its back are so cool! Stegosaurus!

Stegosaurus is a super unique dinosaur with big, jagged plates lined up on its back. These plates look like cool decorations, but they actually had an important job!

When did it live?

Stegosaurus lived near the end of the "Jurassic period," about 155 million to 150 million years ago. That means it walked the Earth long before Tyrannosaurus rex!

What kind of dinosaur was it?

The most famous kind of Stegosaurus is "Stegosaurus stenops." "Stegosaurus" means "roof lizard" in Greek. It got this name because the plates on its back look like a roof!

How big was it?

Stegosaurus had a big body, but it wasn't as big as Tyrannosaurus rex.

• It was about half the length of a bus (about 7 meters)!
• It was about as tall as an elephant (about 4 meters).
• It weighed about as much as 1 to 2 cars (about 2 to 4 tons)!

What were the plates on its back for?

The big plates on the back of Stegosaurus were not just for show.

• They helped Stegosaurus look bigger to scare away enemies when under attack.
• They helped to warm up or cool down its body heat.

The spiky tail was its weapon!

Stegosaurus had sharp spikes at the end of its tail. These spikes are called a "thagomizer," and they were a powerful weapon to protect itself from enemies. It swung these spikes around to chase away big meat-eating dinosaurs!

A tiny brain?

Compared to its big body, the brain of Stegosaurus was super tiny. People say it was only about the size of a walnut. But it could live just fine with it, which is amazing!

It was a plant-eating dinosaur!

Unlike meat-eating dinosaurs, Stegosaurus was a "herbivore" that did not eat meat. Scientists think it ate ferns and leaves from low plants. Instead of sharp teeth, it used flat teeth to grind up plants.

Where did it live?

Many fossils of Stegosaurus have been found mostly in the western part of North America today, especially in US states like Colorado and Wyoming. Scientists think it lived in rich forests and plains.

Did it live a long time?

We do not know everything about how long Stegosaurus lived, but scientists think it lived for about 20 years, just like other big dinosaurs.

How to Pick Colors: Choose Colors That Fit a Relaxed Plant-Eater!

• Basic Body Colors: Stegosaurus was a plant-eating dinosaur that lived on land. Colors that blend into nature are a great choice.
  • Green (dark green, dull green, or a little bit bright green): This makes it look like it is hiding in the plants.
  • Brown (earth brown, light brown, or yellowish-brown): This fits the idea of walking slowly across the ground.
  • Gray (a little bit light gray, or greenish-gray): This gives it a rough, rocky look.
  • If you mix and use a few of these colors together, it will look even more real. Adding pattern of small dots can be fun, too!
• Telly Color: Make the belly a lighter color than the body (like light green, light brown, or cream). This will make your Stegosaurus look 3D.
• Plates and Spikes Colors: Try using colors that stand out a little for the back plates and the tail spikes! You can use the same color as the body, but making the edges darker or using a different color (like red, orange, or dark gray) looks really cool. Try coloring them to show off the bone patterns!
• Eyes: Stegosaurus has gentle eyes, so round, black eyes look very cute. If you leave a small white spot to look like light reflection, your Stegosaurus will look lively!

How to Color for a 3D Look: Think About "Shadows" and "Lights"!

• This Stegosaurus drawing has a lot of body lines. You can use these lines as clues to add "shadows."
• Places that get shadows:
  • Dipped parts of the muscles (inside of the thighs, base of the neck, and more)
  • Under the back plates and the base of the tail
  • Inside of the legs and the bottom of the body (near the ground)
  • The deep lines where the skin wrinkles
  • Coloring these places with a color a little darker than your main color makes it pop out in 3D!
• Places that get light:
  • On the flip side, leaving lighter colors on top of the back plates or the back where light hits easily will make it look even more 3D.

Make the Skin Look Bumpy!

• The skin of Stegosaurus was bumpy, just like a turtle or an alligator. You can see lines that look like little dot patterns in the drawing, too.
• There are many skin lines in this picture. If you color along those lines carefully, you can make it look nice and bumpy.
• If you are using colored pencils, it is fun to press lightly to leave a grainy texture when you layer your colors.

Tips for Pencils, Crayons, and Paints!

• Colored Pencils: You can color dark by pressing hard, or light by pressing softly. This makes it easy to show "shadows" and "lights." Layering the same color makes it look deep and rich.
• Crayons: Coloring a little thick gives it a nice bumpy feel. You can also rub it with your finger to blend the colors.
• Paints (Watercolors): Using a lot of water makes it light and see-through. Using less water makes it dark and clear. Letting it dry and painting another layer on top gives the color great depth!

Tips to Enjoy Your Coloring Page!

• Express yourself freely!
  • You do not have to stick to real colors. You can color your Stegosaurus any way you like! You can make it say, "I wish a Stegosaurus like this existed!" A colorful Stegosaurus is super fun, too!
• Try adding a background!
  • Is your Stegosaurus eating food in a forest? Is it near high mountains? Is the sun or clouds in the sky? Adding a background makes your picture come alive even more!