Aepisaurus Facts
Pronunciation: EE-pih-SORE-us
Name meaning: High Lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 4m |
| Length | 15m |
| Weight | 8 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | France |
Aepisaurus was a sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 113 million years ago in what is now southern France. Despite being one of the earlier described dinosaurs, Aepisaurus remains one of the most mysterious and poorly understood sauropods, known only from a single upper arm bone (humerus) that has since been partly lost or damaged.
Like other sauropods, Aepisaurus would have been a massive, long-necked herbivore that walked on four legs. Based on the size of its humerus and comparisons with better-known sauropods, scientists estimate it may have reached lengths of around 15 metres and stood about 4 metres tall at the hip. It would have used its long neck to reach vegetation that other dinosaurs couldn't access, feeding on ferns, conifers, and other plants that grew in the warm, humid climate of Cretaceous France.
The fragmentary nature of Aepisaurus's remains has led to considerable confusion in scientific literature. Its name has been misspelled numerous ways, and even the year of its original description has been reported differently by various sources. This uncertainty, combined with the loss of part of the original fossil, has made it impossible for palaeontologists to determine which family of sauropods Aepisaurus belonged to, leaving its exact relationships within the sauropod family tree unresolved.
What made Aepisaurus distinctive?
With only a partial humerus known, no distinctive visual features can be identified for Aepisaurus. The bone suggests it was a typical sauropod with the characteristic long neck and massive body, but specific distinguishing characteristics cannot be determined from such limited remains.
Behaviour
Like other sauropods, Aepisaurus likely spent most of its time feeding, using its long neck to browse vegetation at various heights. It may have lived in herds for protection against predators, though this cannot be confirmed from the single bone fragment that represents this species.
Discovery
Aepisaurus was first described by Paul Gervais in 1852. The original fossils were discovered at Grès vert Formation, Département du Vaucluse, France.
Aepisaurus FAQ
What did Aepisaurus eat?
Aepisaurus was a herbivore that fed on plants. Like other sauropods, it would have eaten ferns, conifers, cycads, and other vegetation available in
Early Cretaceous France, using its long neck to reach food at various heights.
How big was Aepisaurus?
Based on the size of its humerus, Aepisaurus is estimated to have been about 15 metres long and 4 metres tall at the hip, weighing approximately 8 tonnes. However, these are rough estimates due to the limited fossil evidence.
When did Aepisaurus live?
Aepisaurus lived during the
Early Cretaceous period, specifically around 113.2 million years ago during the Albian age. This was a time when the climate was much warmer than today and dinosaurs dominated terrestrial ecosystems.
Where was Aepisaurus found?
Aepisaurus was discovered in the Grès vert Formation in Département du Vaucluse, southern France. This geological formation dates to the
Early Cretaceous and has yielded various fossil remains from this period.
How do you pronounce Aepisaurus?
Aepisaurus is pronounced 'EE-pih-SORE-us', with the emphasis on the first syllable. The name comes from Greek words meaning 'high lizard'.
What does Aepisaurus mean?
Aepisaurus means 'High Lizard' in Greek. This name likely refers to the great height these sauropod dinosaurs could achieve when they raised their long necks to feed on tall vegetation.
How fast could Aepisaurus run?
The speed of Aepisaurus is unknown due to the limited fossil evidence. However, like most large sauropods, it probably moved relatively slowly, perhaps similar to modern elephants, as its massive size would have made rapid movement difficult.
What type of dinosaur was Aepisaurus?
Aepisaurus was a sauropod dinosaur, characterised by its long neck, long tail, massive body, and four-legged stance. However, due to the fragmentary remains, scientists cannot determine which specific family of sauropods it belonged to.
Was Aepisaurus related to birds?
Like all sauropods, Aepisaurus was more distantly related to birds than theropod dinosaurs were. Sauropods belonged to a different branch of the dinosaur family tree called Sauropodomorpha, while birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs.
How many Aepisaurus fossils have been found?
Only one Aepisaurus fossil has ever been found - a single humerus (upper arm bone) discovered in 1852. Unfortunately, part of this already limited fossil material has since been lost, making study of this dinosaur extremely difficult.
