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Stego- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “cover.” It is used in a few scientific terms, especially in paleontology.

Stego- comes from the Greek ����é���Dz�, meaning “roof.”

The stegosaur was a plant-eating dinosaur from the genus ���ٱ𲵴Dz����ܰ��ܲ�.��It had a heavy, bony armor and a row of bony plates along its back. It could grow to a length of 20–40 feet (6–12 meters). Its tail also had an arrangement of defensive spikes.

Wait, that's not Sophie the Stegosaurus! Tuojiangosaurus was a different species of Stegosaur found in China. It had thinner and more triangular plates along its back – perhaps used for display and to ward off predators by making it look bigger!🦖

— NHM Learning (@NHM_Learn)

The stego- portion of the word means “cover,” a reference to the creature’s bony protective plates on its back. The -saur part of the word comes from the Greek ����û���Dz�, meaning “lizard.” So, stegosaur literally translates to “covered lizard.” The word stegosaur comes from New Latin, using an equivalent form of stego-.

What are some words that use the combining form stego-?

• stegocarpous
• stegocephalous
• stegodon
• stegomyia

What are some other forms that stego- may be commonly confused with?

• scato-
• steno-
• stetho-

Stegomyia is a former name for a type of mosquito. Given that –myia means “fly,” what does stegomyia literally translate to?