Scelidosaurus displays a combination of superficial bony ornamentation (exostoses) and osteoderms distributed across the surface of its skull and body. A pair of prominent occipital ‘horns’ is present. Postcranially, osteoderms form an extensive covering over much of the dorsum and flanks, as well as the ventral midline of the tail. Transverse cervical collars form by the progressive amalgamation of small, arched, highly vascularised bony base-plates that lie deep within the dermis; these plates act as bases for the attachment and growth of more superficially positioned cap-like osteoderms. Linear rows of large osteoderms (without base-plates) continue beyond the neck posteriorly as obliquely ridged caps along the dorsum and flanks of the body as far as the pelvic region. There was no midline row of osteoderms along the neck and back. A mosaic of smaller (ranging to millimetre-sized) osteoderms, fill the spaces between the larger osteoderms; these enable the skin to be tough and flexible. In the tail there are midline dorsal, ventral and lateral rows of large, ridged osteoderms that remain large toward the distal end of the tail. Two skeletons preserve a ridged osteoderm located on the scapular blade. Rows of smaller, ridged osteoderms flank the fore- and hind limbs.