A massive dinosaur, the Apatosaurus weighed as much as five adult elephants. The name Apatosaurus means “deceptive lizard.” This dinosaur may be better known by its former name, Brontosaurus, which means “thunder lizard.” It was called this because of the loud, earth-shaking sound it may have made while walking. Apatosaurus belongs to the group of dinosaurs known as sauropods, which also includes Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus. The sauropods were large, plant-eating dinosaurs with long necks, massive bodies, and four pillarlike legs to support the body. Where and when Apatosaurus livedApatosaurus lived about 147 to 137 million years ago, during the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods of the Earth's history. Most Apatosaurus remains have been found in North America, particularly in Wyoming, Utah, Oklahoma, and Colorado. It was once believed that Apatosaurus lived in swampy areas because it needed to live in water to support the weight of its heavy body. Modern scientists now agree that Apatosaurus was mainly a land animal. Studies show that its thick legs, elephantlike feet, and strong skeleton were able to support Apatosaurus on land. Physical featuresApatosaurus was one of the largest land animals of all time. It reached a length of 70 feet (21 meters), weighed 30 to 36 tons, and stood 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall at the hips. This dinosaur also had a very long neck and tail. Apatosaurus was a quadruped, meaning that it stood and walked on all four legs. It had claws on its large feet. Apatosaurus had a small, horselike head that measured only 2 feet (61 centimeters) in length, and long, peg-shaped teeth. BehaviorApatosaurus was a plant-eater. It fed on the leaves and needles of sequoia, fir, and pine trees, as well as ferns and other low-lying plants. Its long neck may have enabled Apatosaurus to reach as high as 35 feet (10.6 meters) to browse the treetops. In order to aid digestion, this dinosaur swallowed small stones to help grind up the plants in its stomach. Fossil sites suggest that Apatosaurus lived and traveled together in herds. Like other dinosaurs, Apatosaurus reproduced by laying eggs. Young Apatosaurus did not join the adult herd until they were large enough and weighed about 1 ton. Apatosaurus reached adulthood at about 20 years of age and lived to be about 100 years old. |