
Dinosaur profile
Apatosaurus
Apatosaurus ajax
Pronunciation
ah-PAT-oh-sore-us
deceptive lizard
Sauropod
20-23 meters long
Late Jurassic
154 - 145 million years ago
USA
DietHerbivore
About Apatosaurus
Apatosaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic Period, about 150-145 million years ago. It was a large, herbivorous dinosaur, with an estimated length of about 85-98 feet and a weight of about 20-30 tons. Apatosaurus had a long, slender neck and a small head with a beak and small, peg-like teeth. It also had a long, whip-like tail, which it may have used as a weapon to defend itself against predators. Its body was probably covered in a layer of tough, scaly skin.
Apatosaurus is one of the most well-known sauropod dinosaurs, and is often referred to as 'Brontosaurus', a name that was used for it in the late 1800s. However, the name 'Brontosaurus' is now considered a synonym for Apatosaurus, and the name Apatosaurus is used more commonly in scientific literature. Apatosaurus is known from a number of well-preserved fossil specimens, including several partial skeletons and skulls, which have helped paleontologists learn more about the anatomy and behavior of this dinosaur. It is considered a relatively advanced sauropod, and is thought to be closely related to other Late Jurassic sauropods such as Diplodocus and Camarasaurus.
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