Apatosaurus

Name meaning:

Deceptive lizard

Period of life:

152-151 mya

Period:

Jurassic period

Habitat:

Deserts and semi-deserts

Taxonomy:

Sauropodomorphs

Countries:

Jurassic period Apatosaurus | 3D Dinopedia

Dilophosaurus

Dimorphodon

Apatosaurus ()

Apatosaurus is one of the most impressive sauropods of the Late Jurassic. Its remains were first discovered in 1877 in the famous Morrison Formation — a richly fossiliferous layer that outcrops across the western states of the USA.

This herbivorous giant was astonishing in its size: its body length could reach up to 32 metres. Apatosaurus was a massive four-legged animal with a long neck and a powerful, whip-like tail. Its forelimbs were slightly shorter than its hind limbs, and its bones were strong and stocky in order to support its enormous weight.

The neck of Apatosaurus was made up of relatively short but robust vertebrae. Inside them was a complex system of air sacs, which made the neck lighter and allowed the animal to move it freely while searching for food. This mechanism helped it strip dozens of kilograms of vegetation each day.

The tail of Apatosaurus probably served not only for balance, but also as a weapon. Like other members of the diplodocid family, it could be used as a powerful “whip” to deter predators. Each forelimb bore a single large claw, while the hind feet had three, which may have helped it maintain stability and defend itself.

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