Dystrophaeus viaemalae

† Dystrophaeus viaemalae is one of the earliest sauropod dinosaurs known from North America, from the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation of Utah, USA. Described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1877, it is one of the first Morrison sauropods collected during the Bone Wars. Its bones are characterised by porous, poorly-ossified texture suggesting a young or pathological individual. Estimated at 15 m long, it was a high-browsing herbivore. Its taxonomic validity has been questioned due to the fragmentary and unusual nature of the material.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Dystrophaeus viaemalae 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

Dystrophaeus viaemalae 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.