Dinheirosaurus lourinhanensis

†Dinheirosaurus lourinhanensis is a diplodocid sauropod from the Late Jurassic Lourinhã Formation of Portugal. Estimated at ~20 m, this large herbivore represents the first diplodocid confirmed from Europe, suggesting faunal interchange across the Late Jurassic Atlantic land bridges. Its forked neural spines are characteristic of the diplodocid lineage.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Dinheirosaurus lourinhanensis 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

Jurassic Late Mesozoic Era

Dinheirosaurus lourinhanensis lived during the Jurassic Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 161.5 to 145.0 million years ago.

One of the most iconic periods for dinosaurs. Giant sauropods like Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus roamed alongside predators like Allosaurus. Archaeopteryx, the earliest known bird, appeared. The Morrison Formation preserves an extraordinary fossil record from this time.