Diplodocus | 3D Dinopedia

Diplodocus

Period of life:

154-152 mya

Period:

Jurassic period

Habitat:

Deserts and semi-deserts

Taxonomy:

Sauropodomorphs

Height:

7 m

Countries:

Jurassic period Diplodocus | 3D Dinopedia

Diplodocus (154-152 mya)

Diplodocus is one of the most Jurassic saurischian sauropods dinosaurs well-known species. It lived from 150 to 138 million years ago and is famous for gigantic 35 metres length.

The dinosaur moved on for colossal pillar limbs, hind limbs slightly longer than forelimbs. It was purely herbivorous, consuming ferns and conifers. Short teeth located in the relatively small 1 metre head forepart chewed foliage feed. The tiny chicken egg brain size presumably means Diplodocus was not among the fastest thinkers.

Massive 7-metre neck with at least 15 vertebrae was perfectly fitted for snapping foliage from the treetops. Colossal 70 vertebrae tail provided protection from the attackers. Empowered with a huge body weight of 20 tonnes the tail impact was virtually unstoppable. The reptile could as well lean on hind limbs and fight with sharp claws forelimbs. In fact, the adult species had almost no enemies.

Unlike matures small cubs were vulnerable. Diplodocus feminine laid soccer ball-sized eggs on the wood outskirts and proceeded with a herd foraging. After showing up the cubs fled to the depths of the forest but not everyone could make it there. Unfortunately, not everyone managed to escape, many fell into the tenacious bloodthirsty teeth of the Allosaurus. Many became an Allosaurus preys. Cubs grew very fast and became almost invincible when reaching maturity.

Diplodocus went extinct at the end of Jurassic period similar to other giant dinosaurs about 145 million years ago. The exact extinction cause is yet unknown, sparkling the hypothesis of starvation due to changing environment conditions. Another probable cause might have been new carnivorous species emerge.

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