Sauropelta fossil map
Where fossils of Sauropelta have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 100 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 100 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Stegosaurs & ankylosaurs |
|---|---|
| Lived | 121.4–93.9 million years ago (Aptian to Cenomanian) |
| Periods | Cretaceous |
| Family | Nodosauridae |
| Named by | Ostrom 1970 |
| Fossil records | 34 occurrences at 24 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Cloverly, Cedar Mountain, Wayan |
About Sauropelta
Sauropelta ( SOR-oh-PEL-tə; meaning 'lizard shield') is a genus of nodosaurid dinosaur that existed in the Early Cretaceous Period of North America. One species (S. edwardsorum) has been named. Anatomically, Sauropelta is one of the most well-understood nodosaurids, with fossilized remains recovered in the U.S. states of Wyoming, Montana, and possibly Utah. It is also the earliest known genus of nodosaurine; most of its remains are found in a section of the Cloverly Formation dated to 108.5 million years ago.
Sauropelta is a medium-sized nodosaurid, measuring about 5.2–6 metres (17.1–19.7 ft) long. Sauropelta had a distinctively long tail which made up about half of its body length. Although its body was smaller than a modern black rhinoceros, Sauropelta was about the same mass, weighing up to about 1.5–2 metric tons (1.7–2.2 short tons). The extra weight was largely due to its extensive covering of bony armor, including the characteristically large spines projecting from its neck.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Sauropelta (revision 1345593993), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q131073.
