A Diplodocus was a huge herbivorous dinosaur with a long neck and tail which could maybe break the sound barrier. Official measurements put this dino at 79-85 feet, but some paleontologists believe this dino was up to 100 feet long! The Diplodocus was one of the longest dinosaurs to ever walk the Earth.
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Some Quick Facts About the Diplodocus
| Name | Diplodocus longus, “Long Double beam” |
| Type of dinosaur | Large diplodocid Sauropod dinosaur |
| Territory | The forest rich plains of Jurassic North America |
| Size | Giant dino 79-85 feet long, 23 feet tall, over 500,000 pounds |
| Color | Brown or olive-gray |
| Interesting Characteristics | Extremely long neck and long tail |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Major Threats | Climate change and loss of food source |
The giant Diplodocus was one of the longest dinosaurs ever to live in North America. Paleontologists believe the long tail could be swung like a whip, making a cracking sound. This sound could be used to communicate, ward off predators, or attract mates!
Was the Diplodocus the biggest dinosaur?
The Diplodocus was huge, but not the biggest dino of all time. The biggest dino ever was a South American Titanosaur called Patagotitan. At 102-121 feet long, this Titanosaur is also the biggest land animal known to humans.
You might think the Diplodocus was the biggest dino in North America, but not quite. The title of biggest North American dino goes to the giant Alamosaurus. The Alamosaurus was just over 100 feet long, so not much bigger than the Diplodocus.
What was the Diplodocus’ diet?
The Diplodocus was an herbivorous dinosaur that ate only plants. Because it was so tall, it ate leaves and other plant material from massive prehistoric trees. These trees were tall conifers, ferns, and ginkgo trees.
The Diplodocus had peg-like teeth. It used these teeth for ripping leaves free and grinding them down. It could even briefly balance on its hind legs to reach even higher into the trees!
What are the Different Names for the Diplodocus?
The Diplodocus is the common name for dinos from the genus Diplodocus. The type species or main species is Diplodocus longus (D. longus).
The other species are Diplodocus carnegii and Diplodocus hallorum. D. hallorum used to be called Seismosaurus, but in 1991 paleontologists realized that this dino was a Diplodocus and not a new dino.
When and Where in the World did the Diplodocus Live?
The Diplodocus lived about 161-145 million years ago in North America. That means the Diplodocus was around from the Late Jurassic period until the Early Cretaceous period. The Diplodocus lived in what is now:
- Colorado
- Montana
- New Mexico
- Utah
- Wyoming
The Diplodocus lived with Stegosaurus and several giant Sauropoda dinosaurs, including:
- Apatosaurus
- Brachiosaurus
- Brontosaurus
- Camarasaurus
Theropods Allosaurus and Ceratosaurus also lived in North America during this time. Because these dinos were so big, most predators left them alone.
What was a Diplodocus’ closest relative?
The Diplodocus has several close relatives from the family Diplodocidae. This family of dinosaurs includes some of the longest dinos in history. Barosaurus and Kaatedocus are the closest relatives of this family.
There are several famous dinos from North America in the Diplodocidae family. These Diplodocus relatives include:
- Apatosaurus
- Brontosaurus
- Supersaurus
It’s hard to believe giants like the Diplodocus once roamed Western North America millions of years ago. Thanks to continued research in paleontology, we know so much about this amazing dino. A T-rex might have been the King of dinos, but the mighty meat eater wouldn’t have dared to eat the ginormous Diplodocus!
When and Where Was the Diplodocus Discovered?
Fossil hunters Mudge and Williston found the fossils in 1877 in Wyoming. There were only a few bones in this location. The same fossil hunters found a Diplodocus skeleton in Colorado a year later.
More fossils resurfaced in the sediment of the Morrison Formation. These fossils included adults and juveniles. The species was eventually named Diplodocus by paleontologist O. C. Marsh.
Who is Dippy Diplodocus?
Dippy Diplodocus is the most famous dino skeleton in the world. Dippy was found in Wyoming in 1899. Millionaire Andrew Carnegie paid for an expedition, which resulted in the discovery of Dippy.
Part of the reason Dippy is so famous is because it is the most complete skeleton of the Diplodocus ever found. The original Dippy Diplodocus skeleton is at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dippy is a Diplodocus carnegii, named after Andrew Carnegie.