Brontosaurus excelsus

Brontosaurus excelsus is a species of large, herbivorous sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous periods, approximately 163.5 to 100.5 million years ago. The name "Brontosaurus" translates to "thunder lizard" in Greek.1

Taxonomic History

The fossil of Brontosaurus was first discovered in North America in 1874 and described in 1879. For many years, it was classified under the genus Apatosaurus. However, a 2015 study reinstated Brontosaurus as a distinct genus, recognizing sufficient physical differences between it and Apatosaurus.1

Characteristics

Brontosaurus was a quadrupedal dinosaur with a long neck and tail, similar in build to Apatosaurus. Its long neck likely helped it reach vegetation from tall trees or marshy areas. While early reconstructions were based on incomplete skeletons and sometimes featured incorrect skulls, later research indicates Brontosaurus had a head similar to that of Diplodocus. An average Brontosaurus is estimated to have weighed around 30.5 metric tons and measured up to 22.8 meters in length.1