The Brachiosaurus was a massive dinosaur that roamed the Earth millions of years ago. It had a long neck and a small head, and it was one of the largest land animals to have ever existed. Its size and unique physical features allowed it to reach high vegetation and thrive in its environment.
Brachiosaurus Facts For Kids
- Tallest dinosaur known.
- Lived in the Jurassic era.
- Long neck, a small head.
- Named for arm length.
- Herbivore, ate plants.
- Found in North America, and Africa.
- Huge, and weighed many tons.
- Four-legged, sauropod.
- Roamed in herds.
- Lived about 150 million years ago.
Description and Size
Brachiosaurus, a long-neck dinosaur, belongs to the Brachiosauridae family and is part of the Sauropoda clade. This clade includes other herbivore dinosaurs with four legs, long tails, and necks. One of the most easily identifiable features of Brachiosaurus is its long neck. Based on specimens of Brachiosaurus altithorax, its overall length is estimated to be up to 85 feet, from the top of its head to the tip of its tail. Additionally, Brachiosaurus stood between 30 and 40 feet tall, allowing it to reach vegetation higher than other dinosaurs of its time.
Brachiosaurus, often referred to as the “arm lizard,” walked on four legs, with its front legs being longer than its back legs. This unique feature helped support its long and heavy neck. The longer front legs also enabled Brachiosaurus to reach higher into the trees for food. The neck of Brachiosaurus formed an S-shape, curving forward at the top and curving back at the base to connect to its body, while the middle section remained relatively straight.
Despite its large size, Brachiosaurus had a relatively small head and brain. It could weigh up to 28 tons, but due to its small legs in proportion to its long neck and large mid-section, Brachiosaurus was not capable of running very fast. Interestingly, Brachiosaurus had nostrils on top of its head, which initially led scientists to believe that it lived in water. However, further research suggests that Brachiosaurus actually lived on land, despite the placement of its nostrils on the top of its body.
Diet – What Did Brachiosaurus Eat?
Despite its massive size, Brachiosaurus was a herbivore that solely relied on plants for sustenance. These colossal creatures would consume leaves and other vegetation, often reaching for them from high up in the trees. Standing on all fours, Brachiosaurus had the ability to access plants that were as tall as 30 feet.
Researchers suggest that they preferred vegetation that was at least 16 feet above the ground. To maintain its size, Brachiosaurus likely had to consume a substantial amount of food. Some scientists propose that its long neck evolved to enable it to eat and digest complex plants found in the upper reaches of the trees.
Other herbivores, including other Sauropods, would feed on lower trees and branches. One of the greatest challenges for Brachiosaurus was likely the competition for food. They had to contend with other Sauropods and even other Brachiosauruses in order to consume enough to sustain themselves.
Scientists theorize that different species of Sauropods evolved to feed at different heights, ensuring that there was enough vegetation for each of them to find nourishment.
Habitat – When and Where It Lived
The Brachiosaurus existed during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 156 to 145 million years ago. Alongside the Brachiosaurus, other Sauropods such as the Apatosaurus and Diplodocus also thrived during this era, possibly extending into the Cretaceous Period.
Initially, scientists hypothesized that Brachiosaurus inhabited aquatic environments due to their immense size. However, further examination of their feet and skeletal structure has led researchers to conclude that Brachiosaurus was a land-dwelling creature. Fossil discoveries indicate that Brachiosaurus inhabited North America, particularly the Morrison Formation in the Southwest United States.
This region was abundant with water sources and vegetation, including ferns and conifer trees, which served as sustenance for Brachiosaurus and other herbivores.
Threats And Predators
Many dinosaurs, including carnivores, would have avoided Brachiosaurus due to its large size, as it would have taken a significant number of smaller dinosaurs to bring down such an enormous creature. Among the large carnivores of the Jurassic Period were Allosaurus and Dilophosaurus, with the Tyrannosaurus rex evolving only after the Brachiosaurus had disappeared.
Allosaurus was the dominant predator during this time, and although smaller than the T. rex, it was equally skilled at hunting. Injuries, illnesses, and scarcity of food and water posed constant threats to dinosaurs, including the Brachiosaurus. Despite the abundance of natural resources in their environment, the young and elderly dinosaurs were particularly vulnerable.
Fun Facts
- Brachiosaurus means arm lizard.
- This dinosaur lived in the Late Jurassic period, 155 to 150 million years ago.
- It was found in the U.S. and Tanzania in 1903.
- Many scientists believe the Brachiosaurus was warm-blooded. It might have had a slow metabolism to help it regulate its body temperature.
- For many years, scientists thought the Brachiosaurus was the largest of the sauropods, in recent years, larger dinosaurs have been found.
- Scientists also believed the Brachiosaurus lived in water. Scientists today don’t think this is true. Brachiosaurus had porous, air-filled bones, which would have made it float in water.
- The Brachiosaurus had to eat a huge amount of food—as much as 80 tons. Its teeth could strip leaves from plants and trees, but could not shred them. The dinosaur swallowed food whole.
- Brachiosaurus probably traveled in herds, stripping vegetation and then moving on.
- The Brachiosaurus probably didn’t stand on its hind legs.
Learn More
Read about Brachiosaurus.