Apatosaurus
Means:
Deceptive lizard
Say: ah-PAT-oh-SAWR-us |
Length:
Height:
Weight:
Diet:
Time period:
Fossils found:
Robot size: |
|
90
feet
40 feet
35 tons
Plants (leaves and needles from the tops of trees)
Late Jurassic period, 156 million to 144 million years ago
United States (Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma, Wyoming)
one-third actual size |
MASSIVE
MUSCLES FOR A POWERFUL TAIL
The apatosaurus's long, powerful tail was its main defense.
A lashing from this massive, whiplike appendage could deter
even the largest predator! For a long time, the apatosaurus
was also known as the brontosaurus. Scientists have made several
mistakes in studying this dinosaur. No wonder it is called
the "deceptive lizard."
ANIMALS TODAY WITH DEFENSIVE TAILS
Lizards
Alligators
Crocodiles
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