Thyreophora

Thyreophora are the armoured dinosaurs: the name means 'shield-bearer'. It is a suborder of ornithischian dinosaurs.

They are divided into these groups:

• Various early herbivores which could be quadrupedal or bipedal. Examples: the lightly armoured: Scutellosaurus, and Scelidosaurus.
• Ankylosauria
  • Ankylosaurids: armoured from their head to their club-ended tail.
  • Nodosaurids: no tail club but spikes and bony bumps on body.
• Stegosauria
  • Huayangosaurids: an early group from Middle Jurassic of China.
  • Stegosaurids: small heads and vertical plates and spines on body and tail. Upper Jurassic, Lower Cretaceous.