JurassicHerbivoreGiant
Apatosaurus
ah-PAT-oh-SORE-us
"Deceptive lizard"
Overview
Apatosaurus was a massive sauropod with a long neck and an even longer counterbalancing tail. Long confused with Brontosaurus, Apatosaurus was one of the largest land animals of the Jurassic period.
Vital Statistics
Length
23 m
Height
5 m
Weight
22 t
Est. Speed
10 km/h
Discovered
1877
Named by
Othniel Charles Marsh
Countries Discovered
United States
Fossil Locations
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap
📍 Morrison Formation, Colorado📍 Como Bluff, Wyoming
Interesting Facts
Apatosaurus could use its whip-like tail to produce a sonic boom, capable of reaching 200 decibels.
For decades, museum mounts displayed its skull incorrectly, substituting a Camarasaurus skull.
The debate over whether Brontosaurus is a valid genus continues among paleontologists.
An adult Apatosaurus likely had few predators to fear.
Closest Relatives
DiplodocusBrontosaurusBarosaurusSupersaurus