Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Archosauria
Order Saurischia
Suborder Sauropoda
Family Diplodocidae
Apatosaurus, also known as
Brontosaurus was one of the largest land animals that ever existed. They were about 70-95 feet long and weighed about 33-38 tons. Its small head was less than 2 feet long and had a long skull and a very tiny
brain. They were plant-eaters with a long neck, a long whip-like tail and four massive legs. Strangely, Apatosaurus' nostrils were located on the top of its head. No one is sure why.
Apatosaurus may have been a
solitary animal. They appear to have had a life span of about 100 years. Their eggs have been found in a linear pattern and not in nest. They appear to have been laid as the animal was walking and it is thought that they did not take care of their eggs .
Apatosaurus was a
herbivore and swallowed leaves whole, without chewing them. They were believed to mostly eat conifers. Apatosaurus moved very slowly on four legs. Apatosaurus lived during the late
Jurassic Period, about 157-146 million years ago.