In Polacanthus, there are several forms of post cranial dermal armour, of which the largest is the sacral shield, covering the whole of the dorsal surface in the pelvic area, about a metre square. The shield consists of a mosaic of large ossicle like scutes surrounded by smaller tubercles; the whole fused into a solid plate of bone. This sacral shield fragment comes from only the second Polacanthus to be discovered, and shows a typical scute (50 mm x 40 mm x 15 mm) surrounded by some 30 smaller tubercles. The ventral surface shows a cross hatching of ossified connective tissue in a pattern reminiscent of coarsely woven fabric. From Hanover Point, Isle of Wight.
Size: 80mm by 60mm by 12mm
Size: 80mm by 60mm by 12mm