Name: Stegosaurus (Greek for "roof lizard"); pronounced STEG-oh-SORE-us
Habitat: Woodlands of western North America
Historical Period: Late Jurassic 150 million years ago
Size and Weight: About 20 feet long and 2 tons
Diet: Plants
Distinguishing Characteristics: Double rows of plates extending from back; spiked tail; unusually small head
About Stegosaurus:
Stegosaurus was a large, ponderous, plant-eating dinosaur that lived in the environs of North America during the late Jurassic period about 150 million years ago. What made this herbivore especially striking were the double rows of large, bony plates jutting out of its back. No one is quite sure why Stegosaurus had these plates: they may have evolved for defensive purposes, or they may have served to dissipate heat from this dinosaur's body, roughly the same function of an elephant's floppy ears. Besides its plates, what set Stegosaurus apart from other herbivorous dinosaurs was its unusually small, walnut-sized brain, which prompted one paleontologist to speculate that it had a supplementary brain in its butt.
Recently, though, scientists have come to the conclusion that at least some dinosaurs may have been fairly smart, at least by Jurassic standards. As a presumably gentle herbivore, Stegosaurus would have attracted the notice of one of the most vicious dinosaurs of late Jurassic North America
THE DIRECTIONS
The posted coordinates you will take you to what the locals call the "The Tree". Begin by walking NORTH EAST and after a few PACES you can look down and read a plaque describing the history of this part of Holiday Park. From the plaque walk another 46 PACES. Then stop and turn LEFT and walk NORTH down the hill making your way to a old steel bridge but don't cross it. Standing in front of Bridge and look to your LEFT. There you'll and you'll see a wire link fence. Make your way to the other side of of fence and find a short log, and there you'll find Stegasaurus.
**** Please be prepared this area can be very muddy at certain times of the year****
****Remember to follow all directions EXACTLY****
****Bring bug spray****
****Good Boots****
****Compass****
This cache is located within The Holliday Forest & Wildlife Preserve a part of the Wayne county park system. All caches are placed with permission. The Holliday Forest & Wildlife Preserve contains approximately 550 acres along the valley of what is known as Tonquish Creek in the northwest part of the County of Wayne.
This land was acquired by the County for the purpose of habitat preservation through the estate of Mr. Arthur J. Richardson, a Detroit Banker. Mr. Richardson, a philanthropist who died in 1938, stipulated in his will that the County establish a park in honor of his uncle William P. Holliday, who was a life long mentor.
It took over twenty years to assemble hundreds of little parcels that eventually became the Holliday Wildlife Preserve in 1958.
This three-mile section of the Tonquish Creek watershed is in its natural state, containing thickets, upland woods, wetlands and meadows. The foot trails that follow the streambed date back to the days of the Potowanami Indians who fished and trapped this rich land. Chief Tonquish was killed and buried on the lands within the preserve |