Is it a Stegosaurus?

Some think that the carving of the creature on the left (below) that appears on a 1000 year old Cambodian Buddhist temple is a Rhinoceros -- or a Chameleon: but certainly NOT what the French archeologist who first saw it thought that it might represent: i.e. a Stegosaurus.  Below we compare it to a drawing of a Stegosaurus.  Keep in mind that all reconstructions of stegosauruses are just that: reconstructions, or best-guesses, based on piecing together their skeletal structure -- as opposed to actual observation or a photo of a live specimen.

Stegosaurus or What? 
www.bible.ca/tracks/tracks-cambodia.htm 

Stegosaurus

Its Tail
The tail of the creature above is similar to that of the stegosaur tail reconstruction in the drawing to the right. Its tail droops down and away from its body, and appears to touch the ground.  Note that the end of its tail is horizontal to the ground -- and it appears to go beyond the drawing: meaning that its end is not depicted.  This would explain why there are no spikes depicted. 

Its Tail
The tail of the stegosaur reconstruction above is similar to that of the creature that is depicted to the left.  Its tail droops down and away from its body, and appears to touch the ground.   The end of its tail is also horizontal to the ground.  And even though its end is depicted, it is positioned so that it goes beyond the circle.

Its Back plates
The creature above appears to have 
large structures or plates on the top of its back
.
  
Its back also is rounded
like a ball.

Its Back plates
The stegosaur reconstruction has 
large structures or plates on the the top of its back
.
  Its back also is rounded like a ball.

Its Eye
The eye of the creature above is near the 
middle of its head 

Its Eye
The eye is in the middle of its head.

Its Head
The head of the creature above appears larger than the head of the stegosaur to the right: note that it also has ears: and that  the stegosaur reconstruction does not: simply because ears are often made of tissues, and these -- even as skin tissues -- are rarely preserved

Its  Head
The head of stegosaur reconstruction above is smaller than the head of the creature to the left: however this could be the result of it's "frill" (if it had one) and ears, etc. NOT being preserved. 

Its Ears
The creature above appears to have long pointed ears (?); however, it may simply be a head-shield or frill.

Its Ears 
The stegosaur reconstruction has no frill or shield around its head, and its ears are not even depicted: because they were not preserved.

Its Legs
The creature above has a hind leg-joint that is straight. The bottom of its hind legs are also not shown: suggesting that they are longer than what is depicted: however they appear only a little longer than the front legs.

Its Legs 
The hind legs of the stegosaurus, while similar to those of the creature to the left are about twice as large as its front legs.  Other reconstructions are similar; however, some depict slightly less of a difference.  

Its Feet
The creature above has feel that look similar to those of an elephant.

Its Feet
The feet in the reconstruction above appear to be somewhat similar to those of an elephant.  Other reconstructions appear even more similar.

   
See also: 
Stegosaurus or Rhino 
Stegosaurus or Chameleon 

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This page was last updated on  1-27-2014