Paluxysaurus Facts
Pronunciation: pal-UX-ee-SORE-us
Name meaning: Paluxy Lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 6m |
| Length | 20m |
| Weight | 23 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | North America |
Paluxysaurus was a massive sauropod dinosaur that roamed the coastal plains of North America during the Early Cretaceous period, between 121 and 110 million years ago. This enormous herbivore lived in what is now Texas, where its fossils were discovered in the Glen Rose Formation near the famous Paluxy River trackways.
Standing approximately 6 metres tall at the shoulder and stretching 20 metres from nose to tail, Paluxysaurus was one of the largest land animals of its time. Like other sauropods, it possessed the characteristic long neck and tail, four pillar-like legs, and a relatively small head compared to its massive body. Its weight is estimated at around 23 tonnes, making it a true giant of the Cretaceous world.
As a herbivore, Paluxysaurus used its elongated neck to reach high into the canopy of conifers, ferns, and early flowering plants that dominated the Cretaceous landscape. Its peg-like teeth were perfectly adapted for stripping vegetation, which was then swallowed whole and processed in its enormous gut with the aid of gastroliths - stones swallowed to help grind plant material.
The discovery of Paluxysaurus has provided valuable insights into sauropod diversity during the Early Cretaceous period in North America, a time when these giants were experiencing significant evolutionary changes as new plant communities emerged across the continent.
What made Paluxysaurus distinctive?
Paluxysaurus had notably elongated cervical vertebrae in its neck, even by sauropod standards, and distinctive neural spines on its backbone. Its shoulder blades were particularly robust and well-developed compared to other sauropods of similar size.
Behaviour
Paluxysaurus likely lived in herds, as suggested by multiple trackways found in the same geological formations. These massive sauropods would have spent most of their day feeding, requiring enormous quantities of vegetation to sustain their colossal size.
Discovery
Paluxysaurus was first described by Peter Rose in 2007. The original fossils were discovered at Glen Rose Formation, Texas, USA.
Paluxysaurus FAQ
What did Paluxysaurus eat?
Paluxysaurus was a herbivore that fed on a variety of Cretaceous plants including conifers, ferns, cycads, and early flowering plants. It used its long neck to browse high in the tree canopy and had peg-like teeth for stripping vegetation, which it swallowed whole and processed with stomach stones.
How big was Paluxysaurus?
Paluxysaurus was enormous, standing about 6 metres tall at the shoulder and measuring approximately 20 metres in total length. It weighed an estimated 23 tonnes, making it one of the largest land animals that ever lived.
When did Paluxysaurus live?
Paluxysaurus lived during the
Early Cretaceous period, approximately 121 to 110 million years ago. This was a time when flowering plants were beginning to diversify and spread across the Earth.
Where was Paluxysaurus found?
Paluxysaurus fossils were discovered in Texas, USA, specifically in the Glen Rose Formation. This area is famous for preserving both dinosaur bones and trackways, including footprints along the Paluxy River.
How do you pronounce Paluxysaurus?
Paluxysaurus is pronounced 'pal-UX-ee-SORE-us', with emphasis on the 'UX' syllable. The name refers to the Paluxy River in Texas where related dinosaur trackways were found.
What does Paluxysaurus mean?
Paluxysaurus means 'Paluxy Lizard', named after the famous Paluxy River in Texas. This river is renowned for preserving some of the world's best dinosaur trackways in the same rock formations where Paluxysaurus fossils were found.
How fast could Paluxysaurus run?
Due to its enormous size and weight, Paluxysaurus was not built for speed. Like other giant sauropods, it likely moved at a slow, steady walking pace of perhaps 5-10 kilometres per hour at most.
What type of dinosaur was Paluxysaurus?
Paluxysaurus was a sauropod dinosaur, belonging to the family Brachiosauridae. Sauropods were the largest land animals that ever lived, characterised by their long necks, long tails, four pillar-like legs, and small heads relative to their body size.
Was Paluxysaurus related to birds?
As a sauropod, Paluxysaurus was only distantly related to birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, whilst Paluxysaurus belonged to a completely different group called sauropods. However, they do share common dinosaurian ancestry from much earlier in the Mesozoic Era.
How many Paluxysaurus fossils have been found?
Paluxysaurus is known from several incomplete specimens, including vertebrae, ribs, and limb bones found in Texas. Whilst not as complete as some dinosaur discoveries, there is sufficient fossil material to understand its size, relationships, and basic anatomy.
