Late Jurassic and CretaceousSaurischian dinosaurs

Camarasaurids

Looking rather like the diplodocids, these 'chambered lizards' belong to the family Camarasauridae. They were huge vegetarian (40-60ft) sauropod dinosaurs named after the hollow chambers in their spinal bones. The camarasaurids' tails and necks were shorter than those of other groups of sauropods. The dinosaurs were found in the Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous periods in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Camarasaurus means 'chambered lizard', a name that refers to the same chambers in the vertebrae that give the camarasaurids their name. Camarasaurus was one of the smallest sauropods and may have been the commonest North American sauropod of its time. This 30-60ft long plant-eater walked on all fours and dates to the Late Jurassic period. A number of skeletons have been found in the western USA, particularly in Colorado and Utah.

 Camarasaurus skull

 Camarasaurus


 

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