Camarasaurus Facts
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 5m |
| Length | 18m |
| Weight | 20 tonnes |
| Speed | 15 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | North America |

| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 5m |
| Length | 18m |
| Weight | 20 tonnes |
| Speed | 15 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | North America |
Camarasaurus was a magnificent sauropod dinosaur that roamed the ancient landscapes of North America during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 155 to 145 million years ago. This enormous plant-eater was one of the most common sauropods of its time, with fossils discovered across several western US states including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico. Named by palaeontologist Edward Drinker Cope in 1877, Camarasaurus gets its name from the distinctive hollow chambers, called pleurocoels, found in its neck vertebrae.
Measuring up to 18 metres in length and standing 5 metres tall at the hips, Camarasaurus weighed approximately 20 tonnes. Unlike some of its sauropod relatives, Camarasaurus had a relatively shorter neck and a more compact build. Its skull was proportionally larger and more robust than other sauropods, equipped with strong, spoon-shaped teeth perfectly adapted for stripping tough vegetation from trees and large plants.
As a herbivore, Camarasaurus fed on conifers, ferns, and cycads that dominated the Jurassic landscape. Its powerful teeth could crush and shear plant material more effectively than the peg-like teeth of other sauropods. The dinosaur likely travelled in herds across the floodplains and forests, using its long neck to reach high vegetation whilst its massive body provided stability.
Camarasaurus is among the best-understood dinosaurs, with over 530 specimens discovered, including several complete skeletons. This wealth of fossil evidence has provided palaeontologists with detailed insights into sauropod anatomy, growth patterns, and behaviour, making it a cornerstone species for understanding these gentle giants.
Camarasaurus had a relatively short neck compared to other sauropods, a large, robust skull with strong spoon-shaped teeth, and distinctive hollow chambers in its vertebrae. Its compact build and proportionally massive head made it easily recognisable among Late Jurassic sauropods.
Camarasaurus likely lived in herds, as evidenced by multiple individuals found together at fossil sites. Adults probably protected their young by keeping them in the centre of the group whilst travelling. The dinosaur used its shorter neck efficiently to browse vegetation at medium heights, avoiding direct competition with longer-necked sauropods.
Camarasaurus has appeared in several documentaries about dinosaurs and occasionally features in dinosaur-themed video games, though it's less famous than some of its sauropod relatives like Brontosaurus or Diplodocus.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Saurischia |
| Genus | Camarasaurus |
Camarasaurus was first described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1877. The original fossils were discovered at Morrison Formation, Colorado, USA.