Dinheirosaurus Facts
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 5m |
| Length | 26m |
| Weight | 20 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | Portugal |

| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 5m |
| Length | 26m |
| Weight | 20 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | Portugal |
Dinheirosaurus was a massive sauropod dinosaur that roamed the coastal regions of what is now Portugal during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 152 million years ago. This enormous herbivore belonged to the diplodocid family and may actually represent a species of the well-known American genus Supersaurus, highlighting fascinating connections between dinosaur populations across ancient continents.
Like other sauropods, Dinheirosaurus possessed the classic long-necked body plan that made these creatures so successful. Standing roughly 5 metres tall at the hip and stretching an impressive 26 metres from nose to tail, this giant would have been one of the largest animals in its Late Jurassic ecosystem. Its long neck allowed it to browse vegetation at heights other dinosaurs couldn't reach, whilst its whip-like tail may have been used for defence against predators.
As a herbivore, Dinheirosaurus spent most of its time feeding on the abundant plant life of the Late Jurassic. Its teeth were designed for stripping leaves rather than chewing, so it likely swallowed stones to help grind up plant material in its enormous stomach. The discovery of Dinheirosaurus in Portugal's Lourinhã Formation has provided valuable insights into European sauropod diversity during this period.
The fossil evidence for Dinheirosaurus consists primarily of vertebrae and other skeletal elements, which has led some scientists to suggest it may actually be the same genus as Supersaurus, a sauropod previously known only from North America. This potential connection illustrates how dinosaur species may have been more widespread than initially thought.
Dinheirosaurus had the typical sauropod body plan with an extremely long neck and tail, four pillar-like legs, and a relatively small head. Its vertebrae show characteristics similar to other diplodocid sauropods, with tall neural spines and elongated centra that supported its massive neck and back.
Dinheirosaurus likely lived in herds for protection against predators, using its long neck to browse high vegetation that other herbivores couldn't reach. When threatened, it may have used its powerful tail as a whip-like weapon, similar to other diplodocid sauropods.
Dinheirosaurus was first described by José Bonaparte and Octávio Mateus in 1999. The original fossils were discovered at Lourinhã Formation, Portugal.