Seismosaurus

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Seismosaurus
Live reconstruction of Seismosaurus hallorum

Live reconstruction of Seismosaurus hallorum

Temporal occurrence
Upper Jurassic (early Tithonian )
152.1 to 147.7 million years
Locations
Systematics
Dinosaur (dinosauria)
Lizard dinosaur (Saurischia)
Sauropodomorpha
Sauropods (Sauropoda)
Diplodocidae
Seismosaurus
Scientific name
Seismosaurus
Gillette , 1991
Art
  • Seismosaurus hallorum

Seismosaurus ("earthquake lizard") was a dinosaur from the group of sauropods . He lived in the Jurassic and was possibly one of the longest dinosaurs ever. Its fossils werediscoveredin New Mexico in 1979.

description

From Seismosaurus a partially preserved skeleton is known, which was excavated in 1985 to 1988th Among other things, some vertebrae , parts of the pelvis , ribs and gastroliths were found (the existence of which was later doubted).

Exact length and weight information cannot be made due to the sparse finds. The first descriptor David Gillette calculated a total length of the animal of 39 meters, other estimates come to over 50 meters.

More modern calculations assume a length of 32 meters. The weight estimates also vary widely: While sometimes a weight of 80, even over 100 tons is assumed, other estimates are only 20 to 30 tons. Some researchers suspect that the skeletal parts found only belong to a single, particularly large Diplodocus, which is why the systematization could be incorrect.

Leaves and needles from tall trees served as food.

Systematics

The Seismosaurus , belonging to the order of the Saurischia (lizard-like dinosaurs) , is classified in the suborder of the Sauropodomorpha . Within this group it is counted like all dinosaurs of the family Diplodocidae in the partial order of the sauropods . Since it has so much in common with another representative of the Diplodocidae, Diplodocus , it is possible that it is the same genus , with its full name Diplodocus hallorum .

literature

  • Spencer G. Lucas, Justin A. Spielmann, Larry F. Rinehart, Andrew B. Heckert, Matthew C. Herne, Andrew P. Hunt, John R. Foster, Robert M. Sullivan: Taxonomic status of Seismosaurus hallorum, a Late Jurassic sauropod dinosaur from New Mexico. In: John R. Foster, Spencer G. Lucas: Paleontology and Geology of the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation (= New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Bulletin. 36, ISSN  1524-4156 ). New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, Albuquerque NM 2006, pp. 149–161, digital version (PDF; 20.02 MB) .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Gregory S. Paul : The Princeton Field Guide To Dinosaurs. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ et al. 2010, ISBN 978-0-691-13720-9 , p. 191, online .
  2. a b David D. Gillette: Seismosaurus halli, gen. Et sp. nov., A New Sauropod Dinosaur from the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic / Lower Cretaceuos) of New Mexico, USA. In: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Vol. 11, No. 4, 1991, ISSN  0272-4634 , pp. 417-433, doi : 10.1080 / 02724634.1991.10011413 , online abstract .
  3. a b c Information board at the Dinosaur Museum in Bayreuth ; photographed in May 2018.
  4. S. G. Lucas, J. A. Spielmann, L. F. Rinehart, A. B. Heckert, M. C. Herne, A. P. Hunt, J. R. Foster, R. M. Sullivan: Taxonomic status of Seismosaurus hallorum, a Late Jurassic sauropod dinosaur from New Mexico. In: John R. Foster, Spencer G. Lucas: Paleontology and Geology of the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation (= New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 36). New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, Albuquerque NM 2006, pp. 149-161.