Supersaurus Facts
Pronunciation: SOO-per-SORE-us
Name meaning: Super Lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 8m |
| Length | 37m |
| Weight | 39.5 tonnes |
| Speed | 15 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | North America |
Supersaurus was one of the most enormous sauropods ever to walk the Earth, living in North America during the Late Jurassic period between 154.8 and 152.21 million years ago. This colossal herbivore was truly worthy of its name, reaching extraordinary lengths of up to 40 metres and weighing around 39.5 tonnes. The first fossils were discovered by amateur fossil hunter Vivian Jones in 1972 in Colorado's Morrison Formation, though the dinosaur wasn't formally described until 1985 by palaeontologist James Jensen.
Like other sauropods, Supersaurus had the classic long-necked body plan with four pillar-like legs, a small head, and an incredibly long tail that helped balance its extended neck. Its neck alone could stretch over 15 metres, allowing it to reach vegetation high in the treetops that other herbivores couldn't access. Despite its massive size, Supersaurus was built for efficiency rather than bulk, with a relatively lightweight skeleton featuring hollow vertebrae that reduced its overall weight whilst maintaining strength.
This gentle giant spent its days browsing on conifers, ferns, and cycads that dominated the Late Jurassic landscape. Its small head contained simple, peg-like teeth perfect for stripping leaves and soft shoots, which it would swallow whole to be processed in its enormous gut. Supersaurus likely lived in herds, moving slowly across the floodplains and forests of prehistoric North America in search of fresh vegetation.
What made Supersaurus distinctive?
Supersaurus was distinguished by its exceptional length of up to 40 metres, making it one of the longest dinosaurs ever discovered. It had an extremely elongated neck and tail, with hollow vertebrae that kept its skeleton relatively lightweight despite its enormous size.
Behaviour
Supersaurus likely lived in herds and migrated seasonally in search of food across the Late Jurassic landscape. Its long neck allowed it to feed on tall vegetation without moving its massive body, and it probably used its whip-like tail for defence against predators.
Discovery
Supersaurus was first described by James Jensen in 1985. The original fossils were discovered at Morrison Formation, Colorado, USA.
Supersaurus FAQ
What did Supersaurus eat?
Supersaurus was a herbivore that fed on conifers, ferns, cycads, and other plants of the
Late Jurassic period. It used its small head and peg-like teeth to strip leaves and soft shoots, swallowing them whole for processing in its massive digestive system.
How big was Supersaurus?
Supersaurus reached lengths of 33-40 metres, stood about 8 metres tall at the hip, and weighed approximately 39.5 tonnes. It is among the longest dinosaurs ever discovered, with some individuals possibly exceeding 40 metres in total length.
When did Supersaurus live?
Supersaurus lived during the
Late Jurassic period, approximately 154.8 to 152.21 million years ago. This was during the golden age of sauropod dinosaurs when giants roamed the Earth.
Where was Supersaurus found?
Supersaurus fossils have been discovered in North America, specifically in the Morrison Formation of Colorado, USA. The first specimen was found by Vivian Jones in 1972, with all known specimens coming from this famous fossil-rich formation.
How do you pronounce Supersaurus?
Supersaurus is pronounced 'SOO-per-SORE-us', with emphasis on the first syllable 'SOO'. The name is quite straightforward as it combines the familiar word 'super' with the common dinosaur suffix '-saurus'.
What does Supersaurus mean?
Supersaurus means 'Super Lizard', derived from the Latin 'super' meaning above or beyond, and the Greek 'saurus' meaning lizard. The name reflects this dinosaur's extraordinary size and length.
How fast could Supersaurus run?
Supersaurus could probably reach speeds of around 15 km/h when necessary, though it likely moved much slower most of the time. Its massive size and quadrupedal build meant it was built more for steady walking than running.
What type of dinosaur was Supersaurus?
Supersaurus was a sauropod dinosaur, belonging to the family Diplodocidae. Sauropods were the long-necked, plant-eating giants of the dinosaur world, characterised by their small heads, long necks and tails, and four pillar-like legs.
Was Supersaurus related to birds?
As a sauropod, Supersaurus was only distantly related to modern birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, whilst Supersaurus belonged to a completely different group called sauropods. However, all dinosaurs, including Supersaurus, share a common ancestor with birds.
How many Supersaurus fossils have been found?
Only three specimens of Supersaurus have been discovered so far, all from the Morrison Formation in the western United States. These include the original specimen found by Vivian Jones and two others designated as WDC and BYU specimens, making Supersaurus quite rare in the fossil record.
