The Apatosaurus ( Apatosaurus ) was a herbivorous sauropod dinosaur that lived on Earth approximately 150 million years ago. The term Apatosaurus comes from the Greek words apate (deceptive) and sauro (lizard). It was given this name because some of its bones resembled those of some mosasaurs, a type of aquatic reptile.
It is considered one of the largest land animals that has roamed the Earth. In fact, the fossils suggest that the animal reached 22 meters in length. In addition, it is estimated that the apatosaurus weighed up to 35,000 kilograms.
On the other hand, the vertebrae of this dinosaur were made up of pairs of spines, giving rise to a very wide and thick neck. In addition, various studies suggest that the apatosaurus had poor neck flexibility and that they probably could not move their head excessively. In addition, the apatosaurus had sturdier and less elongated legs than other sauropods. Also, this dinosaur had only one large claw on each forelimb, and the first three toes on the hindlimb had claws.
How did the apatosaurus feed itself?
This dinosaur primarily fed on low plants, although its long neck may have allowed it to eat leaves on taller trees. The apatosaurus likely swallowed large chunks of plants without chewing and ingested stones to aid digestion. In addition, according to a study published in the Proceeding of the Royal Society B, this animal ate up to 400 kilograms of plants daily to survive.
Fossil remains of the apatosaurus
Fossil remains of apatosaurus have been found in various states of America such as Oklahoma, Utah, Colorado or Wyoming. In 1915, researcher William Holland found an almost complete apatosaurus skeleton in Utah.
Also, in 2008 paleontologist Matthew Mossbrucker found footprints of a young apatosaurus in Colorado. These tracks are a great find, as they indicate that young apatosaurs could run on their hind legs.
