Opisthocoelicaudia
Period of life:
71-69 mya
Period:
Habitat:
Floodplains
Taxonomy:
Sauropodomorphs
Height:
4 m
Countries:
Opisthocoelicaudia is a titanosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period about 70 million years ago in southern Mongolia. Here, in 1965, the fossilized bones of this sauropod were first discovered during a joint Polish-Mongolian expedition. But neither the head nor the neck were found among the remains. As a result, the exact appearance of Opisthocoelicaudia is still the subject of scientists' guests.
The long tail section of this animal consists of 34 vertebrae. It is the tail which is an important distinguishing feature of the dinosaur: the tail vertebrae were hollow at the back but not in front, as if the "natural assembly" of Opisthocoelicaudia was carried out on the reverse side. This unique structure could provide the tail with extraordinary strength and allowed the titanosaurus to walk on its hind legs leaning on the tail. Thus, Opisthocoelicaudia tore off the foliage from top branches or, like horses, defended from enemies who risked being hit by "hooves" of far not small size. Thanks to all these features, the opistocelicaudia from head to tail was stretched in a straight line parallel to the ground.
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INTERESTING FACTS
PUZZLES
HOME
3D MODEL "SKIN"
3D MODEL "MUSCLES"
3D MODEL "SKELETON"
VISION
NEIGHBORS
VOICE ACTING
AR - MODE
GALLERY
HISTORY OF DISCOVERIES
