Dicraeosaurus Facts
Pronunciation: die-CRAY-oh-SORE-us
Name meaning: Forked Lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 3m |
| Length | 13m |
| Weight | 5 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | Tanzania |
Dicraeosaurus was a distinctive sauropod dinosaur that roamed the ancient landscapes of what is now Tanzania during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 161 to 149 million years ago. Unlike its massive cousins such as Brontosaurus or Diplodocus, this sauropod was relatively modest in size, measuring about 13 metres in length and standing roughly 3 metres tall at the hip. What truly set Dicraeosaurus apart were the remarkable forked neural spines along its neck, which gave the dinosaur its name meaning 'forked lizard'.
The most striking feature of Dicraeosaurus was its unusually short neck compared to other sauropods. Whilst most long-necked dinosaurs had necks comprising 12-15 vertebrae, Dicraeosaurus possessed only 12 relatively short neck bones topped with distinctive Y-shaped spines. These spines likely supported powerful muscles and may have been covered by a prominent ridge or sail-like structure along the neck and back.
As a herbivore, Dicraeosaurus used its shorter neck to browse vegetation at low to medium heights, probably feeding on ferns, cycads, and conifers. Its teeth were simple, peg-like structures designed for stripping leaves rather than chewing, meaning it swallowed plant material whole and relied on gastroliths (stomach stones) to help digest tough plant fibres.
Dicraeosaurus shared its environment with other famous dinosaurs including the massive sauropod Giraffatitan and the fearsome predator Allosaurus, making the Tendaguru Formation one of the most diverse dinosaur ecosystems known from the Jurassic period.
What made Dicraeosaurus distinctive?
Dicraeosaurus had distinctively forked, Y-shaped neural spines running along its neck and back, which were much more prominent than in other sauropods. Its neck was also unusually short for a sauropod, giving it a more compact appearance compared to its long-necked relatives.
Behaviour
Dicraeosaurus likely lived in small herds and used its shorter neck to browse vegetation at low to medium heights, avoiding direct competition with longer-necked sauropods. The prominent spines along its neck may have been used for display purposes or to support a distinctive crest that could have been used for species recognition.
Discovery
Dicraeosaurus was first described by Werner Janensch in 1914. The original fossils were discovered at Tendaguru Formation, Lindi Region, Tanzania.
Dicraeosaurus FAQ
What did Dicraeosaurus eat?
Dicraeosaurus was a herbivore that fed on low to medium-height vegetation including ferns, cycads, and conifers. Its shorter neck meant it browsed closer to the ground than other sauropods, and it used simple, peg-like teeth to strip leaves which it swallowed whole.
How big was Dicraeosaurus?
Dicraeosaurus was a medium-sized sauropod, measuring about 13 metres in length and standing roughly 3 metres tall at the hip. It weighed approximately 5 tonnes, making it much smaller than giants like
Brontosaurus or
Diplodocus.
When did Dicraeosaurus live?
Dicraeosaurus lived during the
Late Jurassic period, approximately 161.5 to 149.2 million years ago. This was during the height of the 'Age of Dinosaurs' when sauropods dominated many ecosystems worldwide.
Where was Dicraeosaurus found?
Dicraeosaurus fossils were discovered in the Tendaguru Formation in the Lindi Region of Tanzania, East Africa. This site is famous for producing some of the best-preserved Jurassic dinosaur fossils in the world.
How do you pronounce Dicraeosaurus?
Dicraeosaurus is pronounced 'die-CRAY-oh-SORE-us'. The emphasis is on the second syllable 'CRAY', and it's helpful to break it down as 'die-CRAY-oh-saurus'.
What does Dicraeosaurus mean?
Dicraeosaurus means 'forked lizard' in Greek. The name refers to the distinctive Y-shaped or forked neural spines that ran along its neck and back, which were its most characteristic feature.
How fast could Dicraeosaurus run?
Like most sauropods, Dicraeosaurus was not built for speed. Its massive weight and four-legged stance meant it likely moved at a steady walking pace, probably no faster than 5-10 km/h even when threatened.
What type of dinosaur was Dicraeosaurus?
Dicraeosaurus was a sauropod dinosaur, belonging to the family Dicraeosauridae. Sauropods were the long-necked, plant-eating giants of the dinosaur world, though Dicraeosaurus had a relatively short neck for this group.
Was Dicraeosaurus related to birds?
Dicraeosaurus was not directly related to birds. As a sauropod, it belonged to a different branch of the dinosaur family tree from theropods, which are the dinosaurs that eventually evolved into modern birds.
How many Dicraeosaurus fossils have been found?
Several Dicraeosaurus specimens have been discovered since Werner Janensch first described the genus in 1914, including some fairly complete skeletons from the Tendaguru Formation. However, it remains less well-known than some other sauropods from the same location.
