Group:	Dinosauria - Sauropodomorpha
Original Specimen Location:	AMNH
Specimen Number:	AMNH 460/222/339/592
Age:	Late Jurassic
Where Found:	Como Bluff area, Wyoming
Date Found:
Size:	2’3” x 11” x 15”
Original Material:
Source:	RCI
Type:	Skull
3d Scan:	no

 

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Superorder: Dinosauria
Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Sauropodomorpha
Family: Diplodocidae
Genus: Apatosaurus

Apatosaurus (formerly Brontosaurus) was a massive sauropod that lived approximately 150 million years ago (during the Jurassic period). Capable of reaching a length of 23 meters from head to tail, it was one of the largest land animals to have ever lived. The long neck was counterbalanced by the tail, which may have been capable of snapping like a whip to ward off or injure predators. Apatosaurus is thought to be one of the more robust of the sauropods, as its leg bones were considerably thicker than related species, and had somewhat compacted cervical vertebrae. Its weight was probably capable of reaching 23,000 kg (50,000 lbs).

Like the other diplodocids, it is probable that the animal kept its neck horizontal and grazed on low-lying trees and shrubs. The only teeth that it had were long and peg-like, requiring some other means of processing ingested vegetation – likely gastroliths located in the gizzard. As there is no modern animal approaching the sheer size of Apatosaurus, scientists can only theorize about its physiology and metabolism. It probably ate constantly, pausing only to rest, drink, or clean itself.

Type Species: Apatosaurus ajax

Marsh, OC. (1877). Notice of a new gigantic dinosaur. American Journal of Science, Series 3, No. 14, pp. 87-88.

Localities:

Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma, USA.

Scientific Resources:

Taylor, MP; and Naish, D. (2005). The phylogenetic taxonomy of Diplodocidea (Dinosauria: Sauropoda). PaleoBios Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 1-7.

Upchurch, P; Tomida, Y; and Barrett, PM. (2004). A New Specimen of Apatosaurus Ajax (Sauropoda: Diplodocidae) from the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Wyoming, USA. National Science Museum monographs, Vol. 26 (20041228), pp. i-118.

Stevens, KA; and Parrish, JM. (1999). Neck Posture and Feeding Habits of Two Jurassic Sauropod Dinosaurs. Science 30, Vol. 284, no. 5415. pp. 798-800.

McIntosh, JS; and Berman, DS. (1975). Description of the Palate and Lower Jaw of the Sauropod Dinosaur Diplodocus (Reptilia: Saurischia) with Remarks on the Nature of the Skull of Apatosaurus. Journal of Paleontology, Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 187-199.