Dinosaurs with long necks are part of the sauropod or plant-eating group. They tend to have elongated necks, thick legs and little heads. They used their necks to reach taller trees and plants, so they could eat the leaves. These types of dinosaurs were herbivores. Read on to learn more about long-necked dinosaurs.
The Diplodocus Dinosaur
Diplodocus, a herbivorous dinosaur that lived 150 million years ago during the late Jurassic period, had four large, sturdy legs to support its long neck and whip-like tail. It measured around 98 feet in length and weighed around 16 tons. It was first discovered in North America in 1877.
The Apatosaurus Dinosaur
Another herbivore, Apatosaurus, used its peg-like teeth to strip leaves from trees but not for chewing. It probably swallowed stones in order to grind food in its gizzard. Like Diplodocus, Apatosaurus could whip its tail to defend itself from meat eaters. It measured around 33 tons and was approximately 70 feet long. Apatosaurus used to be known as brontosaurus as a result of a labeling error.
The Camarasaurus Dinosaur
The holes in Camarasaurus’ vertebrae led to its name, given in 1877, which means “chambered lizard”. Camarasaurus lived in North America during the Jurassic period. Like some modern birds, fossils show that Camarasaurus was a herbivore that probably swallowed stones to grind food material. Camarasaurus was about 59 feet long and weighed around 20 tons.
The Brachiosaurus Dinosaur
Brachiosaurus means “arm lizard.” This name was chosen as its forelimbs were much longer than its hind limbs. Brachiosaurus lived in North America and Africa during the Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods. It was a plant-eating dinosaur that measured around 75 feet long and 41 feet tall, weighing approximately 89 tons.
The Ultrasaurus Dinosaur
Ultrasaurus has a name which translates into “greater lizard”. Ultrasaurus lived in Korea between 110 million and 100 million years ago during the cretaceous period. Like other quadrupedal, long-necked dinosaurs, Ultrasaurus was an herbivore.
The Alamosaurus Dinosaur
Alamosaurus was named after the area in which it was found, the Ojo Alamo Formation which is now known as Kirtland Shale, New Mexico. It was a herbivorous dinosaur that lived in North America between 70 million and 65 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period and became extinct during the Mesozoic Era’s Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction. Alamosaurus measured approximately 69 feet long and weighed around 33 tons.
The Argentinosaurus Dinosaur
The heaviest and longest land animal known to have existed is the Argentinosaurus. Hatching from an egg the size of a football, young dinosaurs of this species grew to around 121 feet. Argentinosaurus was one of the few herbivorous sauropod to exist beyond the end of the Jurassic period.
About the Author
Born in Norfolk, United Kingdom, Hayley Ames' writing experience includes blog articles for a travel website. Ames was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in English language and literature from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.