Dicraeosaurinae

†Dicraeosaurinae is the subfamily within Dicraeosauridae containing Dicraeosaurus and close relatives from Jurassic Africa. These herbivorous sauropods had deeply bifurcated neural spines creating a prominent dorsal ridge, potentially for thermoregulation or display. Their presence in southern Africa documents the diversity of diplodocoid sauropods across Gondwanan landmasses.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Dicraeosaurinae was a plant-eating dinosaur. Herbivores typically fed on ferns, cycads, conifers, and other vegetation available during their era. Many herbivorous dinosaurs developed specialized teeth and digestive systems for processing tough plant material.

Time Period

Cretaceous Early Mesozoic Era

Dicraeosaurinae lived during the Cretaceous Early period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 145.0 to 100.5 million years ago.

The Cretaceous saw continued dinosaur evolution with the rise of ornithopods and early ceratopsians. Flowering plants first appeared and began to transform terrestrial ecosystems. Spinosaurus and other large theropods lived during this time.