Apatosaurus (name meaning "Deceptive Lizard") originally called Brontosaurus (name meaning "Thunder Lizard"), is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaur that originated during the Late Jurassic period in what is now North America. Often referred to as the "Elephant of the Jurassic", Apatosaurus is arguably the world's best-known sauropod dinosaur as well as one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered.
Thought to have been extinct for 145 million years, there are still herds that remain alive on Primeval Island.
Facts[]
Era & Region[]
Apatosaurus lived in western North America during the Late Jurassic period from 155 to 145 million years ago. It shared the environment with other herbivores, including other sauropods, such as Brachiosaurus, as well as other prehistoric creatures like Allosaurus, Ceratosaurus, and Stegosaurus.
Discovery & Range[]
Apatosaurus was first discovered and named by Othniel Marsh in 1877 because the chevron bones were similar to those of a prehistoric marine lizard, Tylosaurus. When they were discovered, they were originally named Brontosaurus. But that was eventually changed to Apatosaurus. Since its discovery, Apatosaurus has become among the most well-known dinosaurs in the world and perhaps the most famous sauropod.
Physical Description[]
Apatosaurus was one of the largest sauropods of the Jurassic and as well as one of the largest dinosaurs to have ever existed. They grew to a staggering 15 – 20 feet (4.8 – 6 m) tall at the hips, measured 70 – 75 feet (21 – 22 m) in length and weighed up to 30 tons (60,000 lbs.), more than 12 times heavier than an elephant.
Apatosaurus was heavy, with a long muscular neck and elephant-like legs. Apatosaurus had a long whiplike tail that may have been used as a defense against large predators such as Allosaurus. It also had a sharp claw on each thumb that may have deterred attackers when it reared up on its hind legs to defend itself or reach for higher vegetation.
Behavior & Traits[]
Like all sauropods and other kinds of herbivorous dinosaurs, Apatosaurus were dinosaurs that traveled in large herds of dozens and probably migrated looking for food throughout the year from area to area. Herds of adults and sub-adults would collectively have weighed hundreds of tonnes, all moving together.
These dinosaurs had to eat a lot of food to keep their massive bodies going. They had to have an enormously long gut to digest all the plant material that it ate. Like other sauropods, Apatosaurus also swallowed plant matter whole and ground it up with a gizzard, much as birds do today to grind up their food. They did this because they had very weak chewing teeth but had perfect nipping incisors to pull vegetation.
Trivia[]
The sound effects of Apatosaurus are that of custom Brontosaurus sounds as well as elephant roars.
Gallery[]
