Cedarosaurus Facts
Pronunciation: SEE-dar-oh-SORE-us
Name meaning: Cedar Lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 4m |
| Length | 14m |
| Weight | 15 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | United States |
Cedarosaurus was a massive sauropod dinosaur that roamed the landscapes of what is now Utah during the Early Cretaceous Period, approximately 137 to 113 million years ago. Named after the Cedar Mountain Formation where its fossils were discovered, this enormous plant-eater belonged to the same group as the famous Brachiosaurus, sharing many similar characteristics with its giant relatives.
What made Cedarosaurus particularly distinctive amongst sauropods was its prominent nasal crest, a bony ridge that ran along the top of its skull and nose. This feature, combined with its incredibly long neck that could stretch high into the canopy, made it perfectly adapted for browsing on tall conifers and ferns that dominated the Early Cretaceous forests. Like other sauropods, Cedarosaurus stood on four massive, pillar-like legs that supported its enormous body weight.
The discovery of Cedarosaurus in 1996 provided palaeontologists with valuable insights into sauropod diversity during the Early Cretaceous. Its fossils show remarkable similarities to Eucamerotus from England and Brachiosaurus from the American Morrison Formation, suggesting these giant herbivores had spread across much of the northern continents. Cedarosaurus would have lived alongside other dinosaurs including early tyrannosaurs and armoured ankylosaurs in the lush, warm environments of ancient Utah.
What made Cedarosaurus distinctive?
Cedarosaurus possessed a distinctive nasal crest running along its skull, giving it a unique profile amongst sauropods. Its neck was exceptionally long even by sauropod standards, and it had the characteristic high-shouldered build typical of brachiosaurids, with front legs longer than its back legs.
Behaviour
Cedarosaurus likely spent most of its time feeding, using its long neck to reach vegetation up to 15 metres above ground that other herbivores couldn't access. As a large sauropod, it probably lived in small herds for protection, with adults using their massive size and potentially their long tails as defence against predators.
Discovery
Cedarosaurus was first described by Virginia Tidwell, Kenneth Carpenter and William Brooks in 1999. The original fossils were discovered at Yellow Cat Member, Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, USA.
Cedarosaurus FAQ
What did Cedarosaurus eat?
Cedarosaurus was a herbivore that fed exclusively on plants. It used its incredibly long neck to browse on tall conifers, ferns, and cycads, reaching vegetation up to 15 metres above the ground that other dinosaurs couldn't access.
How big was Cedarosaurus?
Cedarosaurus was approximately 14 metres long and stood about 4 metres tall at the hip. It weighed an estimated 15 tonnes, making it one of the larger sauropods, though not quite as massive as some of its later relatives.
When did Cedarosaurus live?
Cedarosaurus lived during the
Early Cretaceous Period, specifically during the Valanginian stage, approximately 137 to 113 million years ago. This was a time when flowering plants were just beginning to appear on Earth.
Where was Cedarosaurus found?
Cedarosaurus fossils were discovered in 1996 in eastern Utah, United States, within the Yellow Cat Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation. This area has proven to be one of the richest dinosaur fossil sites in North America.
How do you pronounce Cedarosaurus?
Cedarosaurus is pronounced 'SEE-dar-oh-SORE-us'. The name is fairly straightforward to say, with the emphasis on the first syllable of each part of the name.
What does Cedarosaurus mean?
Cedarosaurus means 'Cedar Lizard', named after the Cedar Mountain Formation in Utah where its fossils were discovered. Like all dinosaur names ending in '-saurus', it includes the Greek word for lizard.
How fast could Cedarosaurus run?
Cedarosaurus was likely quite slow-moving due to its massive size and weight. Large sauropods probably walked at speeds of only 3-5 km/h and couldn't run at all, relying on their size rather than speed for protection.
What type of dinosaur was Cedarosaurus?
Cedarosaurus was a sauropod dinosaur, specifically a member of the Brachiosauridae family. Sauropods were the largest land animals that ever lived, characterised by their long necks, long tails, small heads, and massive bodies.
Was Cedarosaurus related to birds?
While all dinosaurs share a common ancestor with birds, Cedarosaurus belonged to a different major group. As a sauropod, it was a saurischian dinosaur, but birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, so Cedarosaurus was only distantly related to modern birds.
How many Cedarosaurus fossils have been found?
Cedarosaurus is known from relatively limited fossil material discovered in the 1990s in Utah. While not as complete as some dinosaur species, enough bones were found to identify it as a distinct species and understand its key characteristics and relationships to other sauropods.
