Datousaurus Facts
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 4m |
| Length | 15m |
| Weight | 15 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Middle Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | China |

| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 4m |
| Length | 15m |
| Weight | 15 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Middle Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | China |
Datousaurus was a fascinating sauropod dinosaur that roamed the lush landscapes of what is now China during the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 175-171 million years ago. This long-necked giant lived in the Sichuan Province region, sharing its habitat with a remarkable diversity of other dinosaurs including fellow sauropods like Shunosaurus and Omeisaurus, as well as the spiky Huayangosaurus and the fearsome predator Gasosaurus.
Measuring around 15 metres in length and standing about 4 metres tall at the hips, Datousaurus was a moderately-sized sauropod with the characteristic long neck and tail of its group. True to its name meaning 'big head lizard', this dinosaur had a notably large skull compared to many other sauropods, though it still possessed the typical small head-to-body ratio that defined these gentle giants.
As a herbivore, Datousaurus used its long neck to reach vegetation at various heights, from ground-level ferns and cycads to the crowns of tall conifers. Its teeth were adapted for stripping leaves rather than chewing, and like other sauropods, it likely swallowed stones to help grind up plant matter in its stomach.
The discovery of Datousaurus has provided valuable insights into the evolution and diversity of sauropods during the Middle Jurassic, showing how these magnificent creatures had already established themselves as the dominant large herbivores of their time.
Datousaurus had a notably large skull compared to most other sauropods, giving it its distinctive 'big head' appearance. It possessed the typical sauropod body plan with a long neck and tail, but was more modestly sized than later giants like Diplodocus.
Datousaurus likely lived in herds, moving slowly through the Middle Jurassic forests whilst feeding on a variety of plant material. Its long neck allowed it to browse at different levels without moving its massive body, making feeding more efficient in dense woodland environments.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Saurischia |
| Genus | Datousaurus |
Datousaurus was first described by Dong Zhiming and Tang Zilu in 1984. The original fossils were discovered at Lower Shaximiao Formation, Sichuan Province, China.