
Dinosaur profile
Datousaurus
Pronunciation
Dah-too-sore-us
Chieftain lizard
Sauropod
15 meters long
Mid Jurassic
170 million years ago
China
DietHerbivore
About Datousaurus
Datousaurus is a genus of large, herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic Period, about 155-150 million years ago. It was a member of the group of dinosaurs called the sauropods, which were characterized by their massive size, long necks and tails, and four sturdy legs. Datousaurus was a large, bulky dinosaur, with an estimated length of about 50-60 feet and a weight of up to 10-15 tons. It had a long, narrow head with small, peg-like teeth, as well as a long, flexible neck and a long, thick tail for balance. Its body was probably covered in a layer of scaly skin or armor-like plates.
Datousaurus is known from a number of well-preserved fossil specimens, including several complete skeletons and skulls, which have helped paleontologists learn more about the anatomy and behavior of this dinosaur. It is known from China, and is named after the Chinese word 'datou,' meaning 'great head,' in reference to the large size of its skull. Datousaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur, feeding on a variety of plant matter including leaves, stems, and seeds. It is thought to have used its small, peg-like teeth to grind up tough plant material. It is considered a primitive sauropod, and is thought to be closely related to other members of this group such as Diplodocus and Apatosaurus. Datousaurus is important because it is one of the earliest known sauropods from the Middle East, and provides insight into the early evolution and diversity of this group of dinosaurs.
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