Granddaddy of the armored dinosaurs
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Scutellosaurus, the most primitive armored dinosaur (at least the most primitive that actually has armor). Although it wasn't very big (maybe 5' in length...and most of that's tail!) it lead to big things.
Technical details: The skull is only known from a few scraps of the snout and the lower jaw, so most of it is based on other basal ornithischians. Lots of armor was preserved (304 pieces with the holotype alone!) but it wasn't articulated. I've followed the rules we see in thyreophoran armor in general, and in Scelidosaurus in particular, but ultimately it's still conjecture. Other than that the specimen is reasonably well known, and some of the missing bits are filled in by other specimens.
P.S. Armored dinosaurs are cool and all, but illustrating all that armor is...um...tedious would be the nicest way of saying it.
Technical details: The skull is only known from a few scraps of the snout and the lower jaw, so most of it is based on other basal ornithischians. Lots of armor was preserved (304 pieces with the holotype alone!) but it wasn't articulated. I've followed the rules we see in thyreophoran armor in general, and in Scelidosaurus in particular, but ultimately it's still conjecture. Other than that the specimen is reasonably well known, and some of the missing bits are filled in by other specimens.
P.S. Armored dinosaurs are cool and all, but illustrating all that armor is...um...tedious would be the nicest way of saying it.
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My version of this Scutellosaurus
Both stegosaurs and ankylosaur use their tail as a weapon and this guy's looks fairly flexible and has some impressive osteoderms on it so maybe something as basal as these guys used their tail as a weapon?
I should emphasize that we don't know for sure how the osteoderms are arranged (they were in clear association with the two specimens, but they weren't articulated), but I agree that it seems likely that the tail would have served as a weapon of some sort (even if only as a last resort).
Hehehe yeah making sculptures of armored dinos is also tedious 
and if I not careful ... I will have to start it ALL OVER AGAIN 
... PS. I M A GREAT FAN OF YOURS 
, your skeletal dino drawings give me a lot of improve and a better way to make ore accurate dino drawings and sculptures 
and if I not careful ... I will have to start it ALL OVER AGAIN ... PS. I M A GREAT FAN OF YOURS , your skeletal dino drawings give me a lot of improve and a better way to make ore accurate dino drawings and sculptures 
This is definitely surprising; to think prehistoric tanks come from such a lightweight species 
Right? Go home evolution, you're drunk!
Exactly ! I wonder what caused a huge club in the tail ? Mutation from eating too much mushrooms ?
To be fair the club doesn't show up until way up in Ankylosaurinae, so whatever the sequence it's far removed from Scutellosaurus.
It's odd to see what evolution could lead to
Yeah it is!
Awesome
I can sort of see how the last group of scutes and the vertebrae on the tail would have fused to form the club on the ankylosaurids. As always, great job!
What´s the status concerning the bristles? Or am I totally confuzzled? Apparently skin-imprints had dots or holes, indicating bristle-growth? Either way, totally neato, I always liked Scutellosaurus
Are you thinking of Thescelosaurus? I don't know of any skin impressions for Scutellosaurus.
Hmmm, I might have confused them then, although I´m pretty sure it´s not Thescelosaurus I´m thinking of. There was something about a skin impression with little holes in them, but I can´t remember where I read about it. It was about primitive thyeroporans
Scelidosaurus was found with some skin impressions, maybe that was it?
It's possible. In the end it is purely anecdotal information, and I couldn't get any wiser googling around myself, which is why I kinda tried my luck here
Despite the tedious task of adding all that armor, this still looks great as always. Thank you for these and for the informative comments. 
Totes...
...the kids these days still say that, right?
...the kids these days still say that, right?
Haha totelly my puns are awful
Yes! My favourite little herbivore. Thank you for making this, it will come in very handy!
You're welcome.
Awesome!
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