Miragaia longicollum is a genus of stegosaurid dinosaur that inhabited the Upper Jurassic, approximately 150 million years ago, in what is now Portugal. It is mainly notable for its extremely long neck, unusual in stegosaurs, which is often compared to that of some sauropods, the large long-necked dinosaurs. This anatomical feature allows Miragaia to occupy a different ecological niche than other stegosaurs.
Anatomical and Morphological Characteristics
Long Neck: Its most distinctive feature is its neck, with at least 17 cervical vertebrae, which is remarkably long for a stegosaur. In fact, it has more cervical vertebrae than some sauropod dinosaurs, which probably allowed it to reach a greater height to feed on vegetation located at higher altitudes.
Plates and Spines: Like other members of the Stegosauridae family, Miragaia had a series of bony plates and spines on its back, although their exact distribution and size are still not fully known. However, these structures are thought to have served defensive, display, and thermal regulation functions.
Skull and Jaw: Its skull was relatively small and narrow, adapted for a herbivorous diet. Its teeth were small and leaf-shaped, designed to crush plants and probably leaves of ferns, cycads, and other low vegetation, although its long neck suggests it could also reach higher leaves.
Size and Weight
Recent studies estimate that Miragaia longicollum was approximately 5 to 6 meters long and weighed around 1 to 2 tons, placing it in an intermediate category among stegosaurs. Its elongated body structure and long neck would have given it a distinctive, slender appearance compared to other, more robust stegosaurs.
Habitat and Behavior
It lived in semi-arid environments with sparse vegetation, rivers and lagoons, where it moved in search of food. Its elongated neck is thought to have given it an advantage in the competition for resources, allowing it to reach higher vegetation than other herbivores in the same environment.
Discovery and Paleontological Significance
Miragaia longicollum was first described in 2009 from fossil remains found in the Lourinhã Formation in Portugal. Its discovery was important, as it challenged ideas about the evolution of stegosaurs by showing that these dinosaurs could also develop long necks, a feature previously associated almost exclusively with sauropods.
Approximate measurements of the Miragaia:
Anatomical and Morphological Characteristics
Long Neck: Its most distinctive feature is its neck, with at least 17 cervical vertebrae, which is remarkably long for a stegosaur. In fact, it has more cervical vertebrae than some sauropod dinosaurs, which probably allowed it to reach a greater height to feed on vegetation located at higher altitudes.
Plates and Spines: Like other members of the Stegosauridae family, Miragaia had a series of bony plates and spines on its back, although their exact distribution and size are still not fully known. However, these structures are thought to have served defensive, display, and thermal regulation functions.
Skull and Jaw: Its skull was relatively small and narrow, adapted for a herbivorous diet. Its teeth were small and leaf-shaped, designed to crush plants and probably leaves of ferns, cycads, and other low vegetation, although its long neck suggests it could also reach higher leaves.
Size and Weight
Recent studies estimate that Miragaia longicollum was approximately 5 to 6 meters long and weighed around 1 to 2 tons, placing it in an intermediate category among stegosaurs. Its elongated body structure and long neck would have given it a distinctive, slender appearance compared to other, more robust stegosaurs.
Habitat and Behavior
It lived in semi-arid environments with sparse vegetation, rivers and lagoons, where it moved in search of food. Its elongated neck is thought to have given it an advantage in the competition for resources, allowing it to reach higher vegetation than other herbivores in the same environment.
Discovery and Paleontological Significance
Miragaia longicollum was first described in 2009 from fossil remains found in the Lourinhã Formation in Portugal. Its discovery was important, as it challenged ideas about the evolution of stegosaurs by showing that these dinosaurs could also develop long necks, a feature previously associated almost exclusively with sauropods.
Approximate measurements of the Miragaia:
- 1:35 scale - Complete
- Length 160 mm
- Height 74 mm
- Width 60 mm
- Snout-tail length 171 mm
- 1:20 scale - Assembly kit
- Length 280 mm
- Height 129 mm
- Width 105 mm
- Snout-tail length 300 mm
