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clade · 23 represented species

Sauropodomorpha

Sauropodomorpha is the predominantly herbivorous lineage that ranges from early, often bipedal forms to the giant quadrupedal sauropods.

Explore this branch Parent: Saurischia

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Sauropodomorpha

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Representative silhouette for Sauropodomorpha
4Direct child groups
11Countries represented
233–66 MaDataset range

Definition

Characteristics and significance

Sauropodomorph evolution records the transition to long-necked, column-limbed giants and produced the largest terrestrial animals known.

  • Relatively small head and elongated neck
  • Leaf-shaped teeth in many early members
  • Columnar limbs and obligate quadrupedality in sauropods

Name meaning: Sauropod forms

Branch structure

Direct branches in this dataset

family

Plateosauridae

Open branch family

Unaysauridae

Open branch clade

Sauropoda

Open branch genus

Xiangyunloong

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Representative taxa

Dinosaurs in this branch

Side-view life reconstruction of Plateosaurus trossingensis with a long neck and tailArt by Atlantis536 · CC0 1.0

Triassic

Plateosaurus trossingensis

A large, obligately bipedal Late Triassic herbivore known from exceptionally complete European skeletons. Its holotype, growth record and healed injuries make it a cornerstone for understanding early sauropodomorphs.

herbivore~6.7 m
Side-view life reconstruction of Musango matusadonaensisArt by Connor Ashbridge · CC BY 4.0

Triassic

Musango matusadonaensis

A newly named, nearly grown Late Triassic sauropodomorph from Zimbabwe, known from a skull-less partial skeleton that survived a serious injury or infection.

herbivore~4.5 m
Life reconstruction of Mamenchisaurus sanjiangensis, shown as a representative relative of Mamenchisaurus hochuanensisArt by Connor Ashbridge · CC BY 4.0

Jurassic

Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis

A nearly complete Chinese sauropod famous for a neck about 9.5 metres long, an exceptional cervical series and a small fused structure at the end of its tail.

herbivore~22 m
Side-view life reconstruction of Diplodocus carnegii by Fred WierumArt by Fred Wierum · CC BY-SA 4.0

Jurassic

Diplodocus carnegii

A long, lightly built Morrison Formation sauropod with peg-like front teeth and an extraordinarily long tail. Its famous Carnegie skeleton—and casts sent around the world—made Diplodocus a global museum icon.

herbivore~25 m
Side-view life reconstruction of Apatosaurus louisaeArt by Connor Ashbridge · CC BY 4.0

Jurassic

Apatosaurus louisae

A powerfully built Late Jurassic diplodocid known from the nearly complete Carnegie Quarry skeleton CM 3018, with an exceptionally thick neck, stout limbs and a long tapering tail.

herbivore~22 m

Distribution

Geographic record

Germany · Switzerland · France · Zimbabwe · Thailand · China · United States · Niger · Argentina · Tanzania · India

Country-level summary of represented seed records, not a complete range map.

Sources

Further reading

Introduction to the DinosauriaDinosaur Paleobiology