
Dinosaur profile
Dicraeosaurus
Pronunciation
Die-cray-oh-sore-us
Double forked lizard
Sauropod
12-20 meters long
Late Jurassic
150-135 million years ago
Tanzania
DietHerbivore
About Dicraeosaurus
Dicraeosaurus is a genus of herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic Period, about 154-150 million years ago. It was a member of the group of dinosaurs called the sauropods, which includes some of the largest land animals ever to have lived. Dicraeosaurus was a medium-sized sauropod, with an estimated length of about 20-30 feet and a weight of up to 4-5 tons. It had a long, slender neck and a small, triangular head with a beak-like snout and small, peg-like teeth. Its body was supported by four sturdy legs, and it had a long, whip-like tail.
Dicraeosaurus 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 Africa, and is named after the Greek words 'dikrae,' meaning 'twisted,' and 'sauros,' meaning 'lizard,' in reference to the distinctive twisted shape of the neck vertebrae of this dinosaur. Dicraeosaurus 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 Barosaurus. Dicraeosaurus is important because it is one of the earliest known sauropods, and provides insight into the early evolution and diversity of this group of dinosaurs.
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