What is the history of Diplodocus?
About Diplodocus. Diplodocus is a dinosaur that lived about 154 million years ago—during the Jurassic Period—in parts of Western North America. It was first discovered in 1877 by Samuel Wendell Williston and was subsequently named by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1878.
What are the characteristics of Diplodocus?
They are the longest known dinosaur. They weighed about 12 tons (as much as a large truck). They lived about 154 to 150 million years ago - in the late Jurassic period. This was about the same time as the Stegosaurus dinosaur and the Allosaurus. Diplodocus had very powerful back legs!
Why is the Diplodocus the longest dinosaur?
This was about the same time as the Stegosaurus dinosaur and the Allosaurus. Diplodocus had very powerful back legs! Its body was balanced by a long heavy tail - often used as a weapon against attackers. Their size would also have been a deterrent to predators. It is thought to be the longest known dinosaur.
Where is Diplodocus carnegii found?
Although not the type species, D. carnegii is the most completely known and most famous species due to the large number of casts of its skeleton in museums around the world. Diplodocus remains have since been found in the Morrison Formation of the western U.S. States of Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming.
What era did Diplodocus live in?
Late JurassicDiplodocus lived during the Late Jurassic, 155-145 million years ago. Skeletons of this dinosaur are found in the Morrison Formation in North America.
When did Diplodocus go extinct?
around 152 million years agoThe diplodocus became extinct around 152 million years ago during the late Jurassic period.
Why did Diplodocus become extinct?
Diplodocus became extinct at the end of the Jurassic in a mysterious event, possibly due to a meteorite impact along with most of the Jurassic dinosaurs.
When did Diplodocus first appear?
Diplodocus, (genus Diplodocus), gigantic dinosaurs found in North America as fossils from the Late Jurassic Period (161 million to 146 million years ago).
What was the largest dinosaur?
ArgentinosaurusDinosaur / BiggestArgentinosaurus is a genus of giant sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Argentina. Wikipedia
What was the longest dinosaur?
ArgentinosaurusThe longest dinosaur was Argentinosaurus, which measured over 40 metres, as long as four fire engines. It was part of the titanosaur group of dinosaurs.
What is a dinosaur with 500 teeth?
NigersaurusNigersaurus had a delicate skull and an extremely wide mouth lined with teeth especially adapted for browsing plants close to the ground. This bizarre, long-necked dinosaur is characterized by its unusually broad, straight-edged muzzle tipped with more than 500 replaceable teeth.
Is the Diplodocus the biggest dinosaur?
Diplodocus is the longest dinosaur known from a near-complete skeleton — that is, other dinosaurs, such as the sauropod Supersaurus, may be longer, but those length estimates are based on fairly incomplete skeletons.
How big was Dippy the dinosaur?
They lived about 154 to 150 million years ago - in the late Jurassic period. They are the longest known dinosaur. Their length was up to 27 metres (88 feet). They weighed about 12 tons (as much as a large truck).
In what era did dinosaurs live?
the Mesozoic EraThe 'Age of Dinosaurs' (the Mesozoic Era) included three consecutive geologic time periods (the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods).
Who found the first Diplodocus?
paleontologist Othniel Charles MarshThe first specimen (YPM VP 1920) was very incomplete, consisting only of 2 complete caudal vertebrae, a chevron, and several other fragmentary caudal vertebrae. The specimen was sent to the Yale Peabody Museum and was named Diplodocus longus ('long double-beam') by paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh in 1878.
Which dinosaur had the longest tail?
DiplodocusThe ever-popular Diplodocus also deserves a mention here just for its prodigious tail – the 14-m (46-ft) appendage is the Longest tail of any animal that has ever lived.
What is a dinosaur with 500 teeth?
NigersaurusNigersaurus had a delicate skull and an extremely wide mouth lined with teeth especially adapted for browsing plants close to the ground. This bizarre, long-necked dinosaur is characterized by its unusually broad, straight-edged muzzle tipped with more than 500 replaceable teeth.
How many Diplodocus have been found?
While more than a hundred Diplodocus specimens have been discovered, their skulls are much rarer. Fewer than a dozen have been dug up to date.
Was the Diplodocus the longest dinosaur?
Diplodocus is the longest dinosaur known from a near-complete skeleton — that is, other dinosaurs, such as the sauropod Supersaurus, may be longer, but those length estimates are based on fairly incomplete skeletons.
When did dinosaurs become extinct?
about 65 million years agoDinosaurs went extinct about 65 million years ago (at the end of the Cretaceous Period), after living on Earth for about 165 million years.
When was the first Diplodocus found?
The first skeleton was found at Cañon City, Colorado, by Benjamin Mudge and Samuel Wendell Williston in 1877, and was named Diplodocus longus ('long double-beam') by paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh in 1878.
When was Diplodocus discovered?
Diplodocus ( / dɪˈplɒdəkəs /, / daɪˈplɒdəkəs /, or / ˌdɪploʊˈdoʊkəs /) is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaurs, whose fossils were first discovered in 1877 by S. W. Williston.
What is the name of the family of dinosaurs?
Diplodocus is both the type genus of, and gives its name to, the Diplodocidae, the family to which it belongs. Members of this family, while still massive, are of a markedly more slender build than other sauropods, such as the titanosaurs and brachiosaurs. All are characterised by long necks and tails and a horizontal posture, with fore limbs shorter than hind limbs. Diplodocids flourished in the Late Jurassic of North America and possibly Africa.
How many vertebrae does Diplodocus have?
Diplodocus had an extremely long tail, composed of about 80 caudal vertebrae, which are almost double the number some of the earlier sauropods had in their tails (such as Shunosaurus with 43), and far more than contemporaneous macronarians had (such as Camarasaurus with 53).
What are diplodocid spines?
The discovery of partial diplodocid skin impressions in 1990 showed that some species had narrow, pointed keratinous spines, much like those on an iguana and up to 18 centimeters (7.1 in) long, on the "whiplash" portion of their tails, and possibly along the back and neck as well, as in hadrosaurids. The spines have been incorporated into many recent reconstructions of Diplodocus, notably Walking with Dinosaurs. The original description of the spines noted that the specimens in the Howe Quarry near Shell, Wyoming were associated with skeletal remains of an undescribed diplodocid "resembling Diplodocus and Barosaurus ." Specimens from this quarry have since been referred to Kaatedocus siberi and Barosaurus sp., rather than Diplodocus.
How long is the longest dinosaur?
In fact, Diplodocus carnegii is currently one of the longest dinosaurs known from a complete skeleton, with a total length of 24 meters (79 ft).
What is the name of the sauropod with a long neck?
Sizes of Diplodocus carnegii (orange) and D. hallorum (green) compared with a human. Among the best-known sauropods, Diplodocus were very large, long-necked, quadrupedal animals, with long, whip-like tails. Their forelimbs were slightly shorter than their hind limbs, resulting in a largely horizontal posture.
Where Did Diplodocus Live?
Diplodocus discoveries have been made in Colorade, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming, so there is reason to believe that they stayed in the western-most part of North America. Future discoveries may extend this range.
Where was the Diplodocus fossil found?
Samuel W. Williston was digging around in Canon City, Colorado when he discovered the first Diplodocus fossil. What he found while excavating in the Upper Morrison Formation was a partial skeleton that included the double-beamed chevron bones. These bones, which support a long, heavy tail and protected blood vessels and nerves, were used by Othniel C. Marsh a year later to name the fossil. This initial find took place in 1877. Since then, many more fossils have been recovered and complete fossils can be viewed in a number of museums.
What Did Diplodocus Eat?
Conifers were the most abundant tree during the Jurassic Era, so it is safe to assume that these trees made up a large part of the Diplodocus diet. It is also thought that it fed on ferns, bushes, and the foliage of other trees. Studies of the skeletal structure of Diplodocus lead paleontologists to believe that Diplodocus could rear up on its hind legs to reach food high in the tree tops, allowing it to feed on many different levels. Some experts hypothesize that they were also capable of reaching, with their long necks, into marshes and swamplands to eat soft water plants, perhaps even submerged plants. This dinosaur had to eat so much at its size it is hard to believe that it had a limited menu.
How did Diplodocus Move and Migrate?
Paleontologists use fossilized tracks, leg length, and mass to determine how dinosaurs walked and their research suggests that Diplodocus wasn’t much of a runner. The limbs of Diplodocus weren’t built for the stresses of jogging or trotting. Even though Diplodocus only moved at a walking pace, its long legs and huge size made it possible for this dinosaur to move at an estimated 12-22 miles per hour.
What does Andrew Carnegie Have To Do With Diplodocus?
But just what is a Diplodocus reconstruction doing on a Carnegie institution? Well, in 1899 Andrew Carnegie funded an expedition to recover a Diplodocus fossil in the Upper Morrison Formation. He had funded prior expeditions, but his excavators had no luck in finding a fossil. This time, however, they located a Diplodocus specimen that turned out to be a new species. The new species was named Diplodocus carnegii in honor of Mr. Carnegie and was set up in Carnegie’s museum for all to see.
What was the new species of Diplodocus named after?
This time, however, they located a Diplodocus specimen that turned out to be a new species. The new species was named Diplodocus carnegii in honor of Mr. Carnegie and was set up in Carnegie’s museum for all to see. Carnegie’s Diplodocus adventure didn’t stop there though.
Why is Diplodocus important?
Diplodocus is vital to the study of growth and development in dinosaurs because fossils have been preserved at many different stages of growth. Since Diplodocus grew to over 100 feet, paleontologists perform research in an attempt to figure out how they grew to such massive sizes.
How long is a Diplodocus?
The best-known Diplodocus species, D. carnegii, of which there's a near-complete skeleton, was about 90 feet (27.4 meters) long. The largest species, D. hallorum, was about 108 feet (33 m) long, according to a 2006 report in the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins.
Where was the first Diplodocus fossil found?
Fossil finds. The first Diplodocus fossil was found near Cañon City, Colo., by Benjamin Mudge and Samuel W. Williston in 1877, and was named by Marsh in 1878. A number of Diplodocus fossils have been found in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming, areas that are part of the fossil-rich Morrison Formation.
What did Diplodocus eat?
However, it's unclear if the animal had the neck flexibility that would allow it to reach both plants on the ground and leaves at the top of trees , without moving its body.
What is the longest dinosaur?
Four species are recognized: D. longus , D. carnegii , D. hayi and D. hallorum (previously known as Seismosaurus ). Diplodocus is the longest dinosaur known from a near-complete skeleton — that is, other dinosaurs, such as the sauropod Supersaurus, may be longer, but those length estimates are based on fairly incomplete skeletons.
Why do diplodocids have long tails?
Diplodocus ' long tail possibly served as a counterbalance for its neck. A 1997 study in the journal Paleontology also found that diplodocids — dinosaurs in the Diplodocidae taxonomy family, which includes Diplodocus and Apatosaurus (formerly Brontosaurus) — could whip the tips of their tails at supersonic speeds, producing a canonlike boom, possibly to intimidate would-be attackers or rivals, or for communication and courtship.
Why is Diplodocus called Diplodocus?
Because of Diplodocus' unusual skeleton, paleontologist Othniel C. Marsh coined its name in 1878, deriving it from the Greek words "diplos," meaning "double," ...
How long is the neck of a Diplodocus carnegii?
For instance, the neck alone of D. carnegii was at least 21 feet (6.5 meters) long, according to a 2011 study in the Journal of Zoology, and its tail was even longer. Artwork by Scott Hartman reveals the bone structure of Diplodocus. (Image credit: © Scott Hartman / All rights reserved)
When was the dinosaur Diplodocus discovered?
Diplodocus is a dinosaur that lived about 154 million years ago—during the Jurassic Period—in parts of Western North America. It was first discovered in 1877 by Samuel Wendell Williston and was subsequently named by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1878. The name Diplodocus is a neo- Latin term that means “double beamed”;
How fast is a diplodocus?
It weighed the same as a truck (12-13 tons) Its neck and tail consisted of almost 100 vertebrae. One of the slowest moving dinosaurs reaching speeds of around 8 miles per hour. Specimens have been found in Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.
What dinosaurs whip their tails?
It is believed that this dinosaur could whip its tail in much the same way as the Brontosaurus did; Cracking the tail like a bullwhip. Computer models have since shown that the speeds of this tail flicking could have reached the supersonic level, producing a sound much like a cracking bullwhip.
What is the name of the dinosaur that has chevron bones?
The name Diplodocus is a neo- Latin term that means “double beamed”; a reference to the double chevron bones that are located on the underside of the tail. This dinosaur is not only one of the most recognizable dinosaurs on the planet, but is also considered to be one of the longest.
Where is Dippy the Dinosaur?
From 1979 to early 2017 the cast - known affectionately as Dippy - was on display in the Museum's Hintze Hall.
How many bones are in Dippy's tail?
Every two years or so, Museum experts used specialist equipment to clean the 292 bones that make up Dippy.
How long does it take to clean a dippy?
Every two years or so, Museum experts used specialist equipment to clean the 292 bones that make up Dippy. It takes two staff two days to clean the cast and make sure it is maintained for future generations to enjoy.
How long ago did Diplodocus live?
They lived about 154 to 150 million years ago - in the late Jurassic period. This was about the same time as the Stegosaurus dinosaur and the Allosaurus. Diplodocus had very powerful back legs! Its body was balanced by a long heavy tail - often used as a weapon against attackers.
What is a diplodocus?
Diplodocus were plant eaters (herbivores) which grazed in large herds together - the same as Triceratops .
How much did the dinosaurs weigh?
They lived at the end of the Jurassic Period. They are the longest known dinosaur. Their length was up to 27 metres (88 feet) They weighed about 12 tons (as much as a large truck).
How many vertebrae are in a dinosaur's tail?
Their size would also have been a deterrent to predators. It is thought to be the longest known dinosaur. The neck could reach over 6m (20ft) and its long tail had 80 vertebrae. It was first thought that the tail dragged along as it walked - but no drag marks have been found beside fossilized footprints.
Did dinosaurs have a small head?
They had a very small head compared to the size of its body and would have had a very small brain. According to wikipedia, scientists now think that it would have not been able to lift it's head much higher than its body. So a lot of the earlier drawings of this dinosaur with its head at tree level would be wrong.
Overview
Discovery and history
The first record of Diplodocus comes from Marshall P. Felch’s quarry at Garden Park near Cañon City, Colorado, when several fossils were collected by Benjamin Mudge and Samuel Wendell Williston in 1877. The first specimen (YPM VP 1920) was very incomplete, consisting only of 2 complete caudal vertebrae, a chevron, and several other fragmentary caudal vertebrae. The specimen was sent to the Yale …
Description
Among the best-known sauropods, Diplodocus were very large, long-necked, quadrupedal animals, with long, whip-like tails. Their forelimbs were slightly shorter than their hind limbs, resulting in a largely horizontal posture. The skeletal structure of these long-necked, long-tailed animals supported by four sturdy legs have been compared with suspension bridges. In fact, D. carnegii i…
Classification and species
Diplodocus is both the type genus of, and gives its name to, the Diplodocidae, the family in which it belongs. Members of this family, while still massive, have a markedly more slender build than other sauropods, such as the titanosaurs and brachiosaurs. All are characterised by long necks and tails and a horizontal posture, with forelimbs shorter than hind limbs. Diplodocids flourished in the L…
Paleobiology
Due to a wealth of skeletal remains, Diplodocus is one of the best-studied dinosaurs. Many aspects of its lifestyle have been subjects of various theories over the years. Comparisons between the scleral rings of diplodocines and modern birds and reptiles suggest that they may have been cathemeral, active throughout the day at short intervals.
Paleoecology
The Morrison Formation is a sequence of shallow marine and alluvial sediments which, according to radiometric dating, ranges between 156.3 million years old (Ma) at its base, and 146.8 million years old at the top, which places it in the late Oxfordian, Kimmeridgian, and early Tithonian stages of the Late Jurassic period. This formation is interpreted as a semi-arid environment with distinct wet and dr…
Cultural significance
Diplodocus has been a famous and much-depicted dinosaur as it has been on display in more places than any other sauropod dinosaur. Much of this has probably been due to its wealth of skeletal remains and former status as the longest dinosaur.
The donation of many mounted skeletal casts of "Dippy" by industrialist Andre…
External links
• Diplodocus in the Dino Directory
• Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid
• Diplodocus Marsh, by J.B. Hatcher 1901 – Its Osteology, Taxonomy, and Probable Habits, with a Restoration of the Skeleton. Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum, Volume 1, Number 1, 1901. Full text, Free to read.
Etymology
Overview
Species
Behavior
Description
Morphology
Adaptations
Biology
Life cycle
- Like other sauropods, Diplodocus probably grew very quickly, reached sexual maturity at about 10 years of age, and continued to grow throughout life, according to a 2004 study in the journal Organisms Diversity & Evolution.
Breeding
Other animals
Appearance
Research
Style
Diet
Discovery
Distribution
Collections