1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Dinosaurs

Apatosaurus

By , About.com Guide

Apatosaurus (Wikimedia Commons)

Name:

Apatosaurus (Greek for "deceptive lizard"); pronounced ah-PAT-oh-SORE-us

Habitat:

Plains of North America

Historical Period:

Late Jurassic (150 million years ago)

Size and Weight:

About 70 feet long and 40 tons

Diet:

Plants

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Long, thin neck with small head; long tail

About Apatosaurus:

If the name Apatosaurus sounds unfamiliar, that's because this sauropod was known, until recently, as Brontosaurus. Why the change? When the paleontologist Othniel C. Marsh first discovered the bones of this giant herbivore in 1877, he named it Apatosaurus--and when he unearthed larger, but similar, bones a few years later, he called the supposedly new dinosaur Brontosaurus. It turned out that what Marsh thought were Brontosaurus bones were actually grown-up Apatosaurus bones, and scientists now prefer the original name. (See more facts, figures and news about Apatosaurus.)

With its massive body, long neck, and equally long tail, Apatosaurus was the prototypical sauropod. Because its back legs were slightly longer than its front legs, some paleontologists think Apatosaurus reared up to nibble on the tops of trees--though this would have placed enormous demands on its heart, not to mention the rest of its anatomy.

By the way, the name Apatosaurus ("deceptive lizard") has nothing to do with that whole Brontosaurus affair; this dinosaur was so dubbed because paleontologists once confused it with yet another beast, Mosasaurus.

Explore Dinosaurs

About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Ace the GRE

Being well prepared is the first step; here are more essential suggestions. More >

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Dinosaurs
  4. Types of Dinosaurs
  5. Herbivorous Dinosaurs
  6. Apatosaurus - Dinosaur Apatosaurus Characteristics, Behavior and Habitat>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.