Camarasaurus, recognized for its distinctive box-like cranium and sturdy physique, was a sauropod dinosaur that lived in North America throughout the Late Jurassic interval. It’s the most commonly-found sauropod within the Morrison Formation, a well-known dinosaur fossil web site within the western United States.
Camarasaurus Details
- Kind of Dinosaur: Sauropod
- Weight loss program: Herbivore
- Continent(s) Discovered: North America
- Size: Roughly 15–18 meters (49–59 ft)
- Top: Roughly 4.5–6 meters (15–20 ft)
- Weight: Roughly 23–40+ metric tons (25–44+ tons)
- Interval: Late Jurassic (about 155 to 145 million years in the past)
What Did Camarasaurus Look Like?
Camarasaurus was a big, sturdy sauropod dinosaur, simply recognizable by its distinctive box-like cranium and enormous, rounded nasal openings situated in entrance of its eyes.
Though lengthy, the neck of Camarasaurus was shorter and sturdier than that of another long-necked sauropods.
Usually for a sauropod, the physique of Camarasaurus was huge and barrel-shaped, supported by thick, pillar-like legs.
Like different family members Camarasauridae, its forelimbs had been barely shorter than its hind limbs, giving its again a slight arch. The tail was longer than the neck, and helped stability its giant physique.
Camarasaurus measured roughly 15 to 23 meters (49 to 75 ft) in size and stood about 4.5 to six meters (15 to twenty ft) tall on the hips. Its weight is estimated to have been round 23 metric tons (25 tons) – though some estimates of its most weight are in extra of 40 metric tons / 44 tons.
Though direct fossil proof of its pores and skin is uncommon, it’s believed that Camarasaurus had a tough, scaly texture, typical of many sauropods. This spectacular measurement and distinctive bodily options made Camarasaurus a dominant herbivore in its ecosystem throughout the Late Jurassic interval.
Camarasaurus Fossils
Camarasaurus is likely one of the most typical dinosaurs within the fossil report, with over 500 Camarasaurus specimens having been found. A specimen of a juvenile Camarasaurus is likely one of the most full sauropod fossils but found.
Camarasaurus Species
At the moment, 4 Camarasaurus species have been recognized:
- Camarasaurus grandis
- Camarasaurus lentus
- Camarasaurus lewisi
- Camarasaurus supremus
What does the title Camarasaurus imply?
The title “Camarasaurus” means “chambered lizard.” It’s derived from the Greek phrases “kamara,” that means “vaulted chamber,” and “sauros,” that means “lizard.”
This title refers back to the dinosaur’s distinctive vertebrae, which had hole chambers. These hole areas within the vertebrae made the bones lighter whereas sustaining energy, a helpful adaptation for supporting the large measurement of this dinosaur.
The hole bones contained air sacs, which enabled the dinosaur to soak up sufficient oxygen to maintain its enormous physique functioning.
Camarasaurus was first named and described in 1877 by the paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope.
What Kind Of Dinosaur Was Camarasaurus?
Camarasaurus was a sauropod and a member of the household Camarasauridae, characterised by their comparatively brief and sturdy necks, giant nasal openings, and spoon-shaped enamel.
The place Did Camarasaurus Stay?
Camarasaurus lived in what’s now North America. Fossils of Camarasaurus have been predominantly discovered within the Morrison Formation, a wealthy dinosaur fossil web site that spans a number of states within the western United States, together with Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
When Did Camarasaurus Stay?
Camarasaurus lived throughout the Late Jurassic interval, roughly 155 to 145 million years in the past. This time-frame locations Camarasaurus in an period when North America was house to a various array of enormous dinosaurs, together with different notable sauropods like Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus.
What Dinosaurs And Different Animals Did Camarasaurus Stay With?
Camarasaurus shared its habitat within the Morrison Formation throughout the Late Jurassic interval with a various vary of dinosaurs and different prehistoric animals. This era, roughly 155 to 145 million years in the past, was wealthy in each herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs, in addition to varied different fauna.
Dinosaurs that lived with Camarasaurus:
- Sauropods: Camarasaurus coexisted with different giant sauropods similar to Diplodocus, Apatosaurus, and Brachiosaurus. These sauropods, like Camarasaurus, had been herbivores and occupied completely different ecological niches.
- Theropods: Giant predatory dinosaurs, together with Allosaurus and Ceratosaurus, had been among the many high carnivores. They preyed on the plentiful herbivorous dinosaurs.
- Ornithopods: These included smaller herbivores like Dryosaurus and Camptosaurus, which had been agile and sure consumed low-growing vegetation.
- Stegosaurs: Stegosaurus was a widely known armored dinosaur from this era, acknowledged for its distinctive again plates and tail spikes.
- Ankylosaurs: Though much less widespread, some early ankylosaurs like Mymoorapelta had been current.
Different animals that lived with Camarasaurus:
- Pterosaurs: A number of pterosaurs would have been seen flying within the Jurassic skies on the time Camarasaurus was alive. These embody Harpactognathus and Kepodactylus.
- Crocodyliforms: Early relations of recent crocodiles, like Goniopholis, lived within the rivers and lakes of the area.
- Amphibians: Eobatrachus, an early frog, and Iridotriton, and early salamander, are examples of amphibians discovered within the Morrison Formation.
- Mammals: Small mammals, largely nocturnal, similar to docodonts and multituberculates, coexisted with dinosaurs, dwelling in burrows and feeding on bugs and small vegetation.
- Fish and Invertebrates: The rivers and lakes teemed with fish, whereas the land and water supported a spread of invertebrates like bugs, mollusks, and crustaceans.
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