Apatosaurus

Colossal Body and Unique Physical Structure

Among the many sauropods, Apatosaurus was characterized by its sturdy body and neck.
It was approximately 26 meters long and is said to have weighed between 24 and 32 tons, making its size overwhelming.
It is believed to have been heavier than Diplodocus, another member of the Diplodocidae family.

Its long neck, which reached a length of 6 meters, is presumed to have been held up by strong ligaments.

It held up its 6-meter-long neck with strong ligaments.

Another unique feature of Apatosaurus was that its forelimbs were longer than its hind limbs.

It was once believed that such a heavy body would have been crushed under its own weight on land, and a theory that it lived in water was widely accepted until the 1960s.
However, subsequent research has completely disproven this aquatic theory.

The Birth and Disappearance of “Brontosaurus”

Around 1877, when Apatosaurus was discovered, a fierce competition known as the “Bone Wars” was unfolding in the United States.
During this time, a scientist mistakenly identified an Apatosaurus skeleton as a new species and named it “Brontosaurus” or “thunder lizard.”
Brontosaurus went on to gain more popularity and fame than the original Apatosaurus and was featured in many encyclopedias and media for a long time.

However, a later review concluded that Brontosaurus was the same species as Apatosaurus.
Because the name Apatosaurus was registered first, it was given priority, leading to the conclusion that “Brontosaurus did not exist.”

Astonishing Growth Rate and Little-Known Ecology

Apatosaurus’s greatest weapon for protecting itself from predators was its massive size.
In particular, it had large claws on the thumb of its forelimbs and on three toes of its hind limbs, which were highly effective weapons against predators.

Its growth rate was astonishing, and it may have reached adulthood in just about 13 years.
During its juvenile stage, it is theorized to have gained as much as 15 kg per day, which suggests that plants—its food source—were incredibly abundant at the time.

Apatosaurus had pencil-shaped teeth at the front of its square-shaped mouth, but these were not useful for chewing.
It used its teeth like a rake to strip leaves from plants and then swallowed them whole.

It used its teeth like a rake to strip leaves from plants and swallowed them whole.

Also, because an Apatosaurus skull was not found for many years, a relatively similar skull from Camarasaurus was used for its reconstruction.
However, when a complete fossil was discovered in the 1990s, it was found to have had a slender, streamlined face.

New Research and an Unfortunate Dinosaur

Having its skull misrepresented for many years and being called by the incorrect name “Brontosaurus” for so long, Apatosaurus might have suffered an unfortunate fate.
However, in 2015, a new study was published suggesting that “Apatosaurus and Brontosaurus are very likely different species,” leading to an interesting movement to “revive” Brontosaurus.

Apatosaurus’s very sturdy and large skeleton serves as a valuable clue that conveys its impressive presence to the modern world.