The Plateosaurus is one of the first dinosaurs to be discovered, with over 100 well-preserved fossils found throughout Europe. This large Triassic dinosaur holds the distinction of being the first ever dino found in Norway. The Plateosaurus is also the first herbivore to be discovered.
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Some Quick Facts About the Plateosaurus
| Name | Plateosaurus (meaning “broad lizard”, sometimes mistakenly called “flat lizard”) |
| Type of dinosaur | Early Sauropodomorph (Sauropod) |
| Territory | Dry desert, Central and Northern Europe |
| Size | 12 feet tall, 16-32 feet long |
| Color | Brownish |
| Interesting Characteristics | Long neck, short arms with grasping hands, large and thick back legs, a long, heavy tail |
| Diet | Plants |
| Major Threats | Environmental threats like natural disasters and climate change, and larger carnivorous Triassic dinosaurs |
In a time of smaller, lighter dinos, Plateosaurus was one of the largest and bulkiest of the Triassic dinosaurs. Though most of their weight was carried in their hind legs and hips, Plateosaurs could weigh as much as a modern white rhino! As one of the first dinosaurs to be discovered (1834), they were named in 1837 by Hermann von Meyer before the superorder Dinosauria even existed.
Was the Plateosaurus the First Dinosaur?
The Plateosaurus is one of the first dinosaurs discovered, but it is not the first known dinosaur. Still, this large dino lived in the Late Triassic Period over 204 million years ago! Plateosaurus is an early sauropod or prosauropod dinosaur from the Norian to Rhaetian period of the Triassic era.
Plateosaurs are the earliest herbivores of the dinos. Their teeth are serrated and leaf-shaped, perfect for grinding up grass, leaves, and other plant material. When threatened, they used claws on their forelimbs to protect themselves.
How Tall Was the Plateosaurus?
Plateosaurs were very tall for a Triassic dinosaur. They were 12 feet tall, which is almost as tall as a giraffe or a Tarbosaurus. Even though they were heavy, Plateosaurs were fast, too. They could run up to 40 miles per hour, which is as fast as an ostrich!
Like giraffes, Plateosaurs could use their long necks to stretch upwards to reach leaves and other high plant materials. Plateosaurs would also run upright on their hind limbs to outrun predators. Because large numbers of Plateosaurus fossils have been found in groups, paleontologists believe Plateosaurs traveled in herds just like cattle do.
How Did the Plateosaurus Get Around?
The Plateosaur was originally thought to be both bipedal and quadrupedal. This means it walked on both two and four legs. In the early 1900s, paleontologists argued that Plateosaurs would walk on four legs while grazing in the grass and lumbering along at a slow pace.
More recent research from 2010 suggests that Plateosaurs were strictly bipedal and would lower themselves when grazing. They would keep their weight centered on their hind legs instead of using their forelimbs on the ground. Their long neck and small skull helped them stay balanced.
Was the Plateosaurus Predator or Prey?
Because of the Plateosaur’s size and speed, they rarely had to worry about predators. When faced with a predator, the Plateosaurus could run or fight with the claws on its forelimbs. Since Plateosaur were herbivores, they were not considered predators.
Fossil evidence of theropods and other Triassic dinosaurs have been found in and around sites near Plateosaurs. This suggests this herd-bound herbivore lived peacefully with other dinos that posed no threat to them. Ancient turtles called Proganochelys have also been found near Plateosaurus dig sites.
Another interesting finding when comparing Plateosaur fossils to other herbivores and omnivores was the lack of gastroliths. Gastroliths are stones swallowed by an animal to help with digestion.
While many herbivores are found with gastroliths to help break down plant materials, there have been no gastroliths found in any Plateosaurus fossil. This finding proves the serrated, leaf-shaped teeth were effective.
The Plateosaurus is one of the most studied and well-documented of the Triassic dinosaurs. Early Plateosaur fossils were adult, but fossil evidence from Switzerland in 2016 proved to be the first juvenile Plateosaurus ever found by Paleontologist!
More than 100 fossils have been found in France, Germany, Greenland, Norway, and Switzerland since 1834. The discovery of Plateosaur fossils changed the face of paleontology almost 200 years ago and continues to impact the field even today!