Produced by the Population Genetics and Evolution class, Furman University

The Jurassic: Apatosaurus
Apatosaurus, which literally means “deceptive lizard” (Viegas 2010), was one of the largest land animals ever. Formerly known as Brontosaurus, they were about 70-90 feet long and 15 feet tall and may have weighed 33-38 tons. They had a long neck with a very small head. They had nostrils on the top of their head, although the purpose of these is unknown as they were not water-dwelling animals and therefore did not need them for breathing while swimming (Col 2009). They had pencil-like teeth at the front of their jaw that were probably used to tear leaves off of trees. In fact, it is estimated that these creatures may have eaten up to one ton of plant material per day. However, Apatosaurus did not have teeth that were designed to chew their food, and as a result, they probably swallowed it whole (CMNH). These creatures had gastroliths, which are stomach stones that help grind and digest food (Col 2009). They walked on all four legs (although their hind legs were longer) and had elephant-like feet with a claw in the “thumb” position. These animals were probably very slow due to their massive size, so it is likely that they relied on their whip-like tail and sharp claws for defense against predators (Viegas 2010).

Page by Lindsay Gerzel
Apatosaurus. Picture From: psychosuarus.com

Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH). Apatosaurus. Accessed March 29, 2010

Col J. 2009. Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus). Enchanted Learning. Accessed March 29, 2010.

Viegas J. 2010. Apatosaurus: the dinosaur formerly known as Brontosaurus. Discovery Channel. Accessed March 29, 2010.