Scutosaurus

Scutosaurus was a genus of armor-covered pareiasaur that lived around 252-248 million years ago in Russia, in the late Permian period. Its genus name refers to large plates of armor scattered across its body. It was a large anapsid reptile that, unlike most reptiles, held its legs underneath its body to support its great weight.

Scutosaurs mainly travelled in herds, not related to dinosaurs but instead were very distant ancestors of turtles.

Although they had no shell, their backs were covered in hard, bony plates. Despite their size and armor, they were prey for Gorgonopsids. Once they tired from running from danger, they’re vulnerable. Like the massive sauropod dinosaurs, scutosaurs couldn’t chew, but instead they probably had stones they pick up in their stomachs to help grind the vegetation so their digestive juices could get to work.

Scutosaurs could smell water from several miles away. Its genus name refers to large plates of armor scattered across its body, making it one of the best-defended animals. It was a large reptile that, unlike most reptiles (but like the dinosaurs), held its legs underneath its body to support its great weight.