Mid Jurassic through Early CretaceousSaurischian dinosaurs

Brachiosaurids

BrachiosaurusThese dinosaurs (the name means 'arm reptiles') belong to the family Brachiosauridae. They were sauropod dinosaurs, and were very large vegetarians with spoon-shaped teeth and long forelimbs. They were the largest of the dinosaurs. Some authorities place the camarasaurids as a subfamily within this family. Brachiosaurids were from 33-100ft long and lived in the Mid Jurassic to Early Cretaceous periods. Remains have been found in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and perhaps also Australia.

Brachiosaurus itself was a sauropod dinosaur of the Late Jurassic period. Remains were found early this century in Tendaguru, Tanzania but other specimens have also been found in Colorado, USA. Brachiosaurus was one of the largest dinosaurs measuring about 82ft. It was also 52ft high and weighed 50 tons. This massive four-footed vegetarian had a long giraffe-like neck with nostrils on the top of its head. It also had longer forelimbs than hindlimbs.


 

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