Suuwassea Facts
Pronunciation: SOO-wah-see-ah
Name meaning: Ancient Thunder
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 3m |
| Length | 14m |
| Weight | 8 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | North America |
Suuwassea was a distinctive sauropod dinosaur that roamed the ancient landscapes of what is now Montana during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 154 to 152 million years ago. Unlike the enormous sauropods such as Brontosaurus that shared its time and habitat, Suuwassea was a more modestly-sized member of this long-necked group, measuring about 14 metres in length and standing roughly 3 metres tall at the hip.
This sauropod belonged to a specialised group that developed shorter necks compared to their giant cousins, making them well-adapted for feeding on vegetation at medium heights rather than the very tops of trees. Suuwassea possessed the characteristic long tail and four sturdy legs of sauropods, but its proportions were more compact and robust than many of its relatives.
As a herbivore, Suuwassea used its relatively short neck to browse on ferns, cycads, and conifers that dominated the Late Jurassic landscape. Its teeth were adapted for stripping vegetation rather than chewing, and like other sauropods, it likely swallowed stones to help grind plant matter in its stomach. The Morrison Formation where Suuwassea was discovered represents a time when North America enjoyed a warm, semi-arid climate with seasonal rainfall.
The fossil remains of Suuwassea were painstakingly excavated over two years of fieldwork in southern Montana, providing scientists with important insights into sauropod diversity during one of the most famous periods in dinosaur history.
What made Suuwassea distinctive?
Suuwassea had a relatively short neck compared to other sauropods, with distinctive vertebral features that set it apart from its larger relatives. Its body proportions were more compact and robust, with a moderately long tail and sturdy limb bones adapted for supporting its weight on the Late Jurassic floodplains.
Behaviour
Suuwassea likely lived in herds, moving across the Late Jurassic landscape in search of suitable vegetation at medium heights. Its shorter neck meant it probably fed differently from taller sauropods, focusing on mid-level browse rather than competing for the highest tree tops, which may have allowed multiple sauropod species to coexist in the same environment.
Discovery
Suuwassea was first described by J.D. Harris and Peter Dodson in 2004. The original fossils were discovered at Morrison Formation, Carbon County, Montana, USA.
Suuwassea FAQ
What did Suuwassea eat?
Suuwassea was a herbivore that fed on the plants available in
Late Jurassic North America, including ferns, cycads, and conifers. Its shorter neck compared to other sauropods meant it likely browsed on vegetation at medium heights rather than the very tops of tall trees.
How big was Suuwassea?
Suuwassea was about 14 metres long and stood roughly 3 metres tall at the hip, weighing approximately 8 tonnes. This made it considerably smaller than giant sauropods like
Brontosaurus, but still a substantial dinosaur by most standards.
When did Suuwassea live?
Suuwassea lived during the
Late Jurassic period, approximately 154.8 to 152.21 million years ago. This was during the height of the 'Age of Dinosaurs' when many of the most famous dinosaur species roamed the Earth.
Where was Suuwassea found?
Suuwassea was discovered in the Morrison Formation in southern Carbon County, Montana, USA. The fossils were excavated during expeditions spanning 1999 and 2000 from rocks that preserve one of the world's most famous dinosaur ecosystems.
How do you pronounce Suuwassea?
Suuwassea is pronounced 'SOO-wah-see-ah'. The name comes from the Crow Native American language and means 'ancient thunder', referring to both its great age and the thunderous sound its footsteps would have made.
What does Suuwassea mean?
Suuwassea means 'ancient thunder' in the Crow Native American language. This name was chosen to reflect both the dinosaur's incredible age and the thunderous footsteps it would have made as it walked across the
Late Jurassic landscape.
How fast could Suuwassea run?
Like most sauropods, Suuwassea was not built for speed and probably moved at a relatively slow walking pace. Its massive body and four-legged stance were designed for stability and supporting its weight rather than rapid movement.
What type of dinosaur was Suuwassea?
Suuwassea was a sauropod dinosaur, specifically a member of the Dicraeosauridae family. Sauropods were the long-necked, plant-eating giants of the dinosaur world, though Suuwassea was more modestly sized than many of its relatives.
Was Suuwassea related to birds?
Suuwassea belonged to the Saurischia group of dinosaurs, which does include the ancestors of modern birds. However, as a sauropod, Suuwassea was not closely related to birds - the bird lineage evolved from small theropod dinosaurs, not from the long-necked sauropod group.
How many Suuwassea fossils have been found?
Only one partial skeleton of Suuwassea has been discovered so far, found in Montana between 1999 and 2000. The remains include parts of the vertebral column and limb bones, though the skeleton was disarticulated when found, meaning the bones were scattered rather than connected.
