Apatosaurus ajax

†Apatosaurus ajax is the type species of Apatosaurus, a giant diplodocid sauropod herbivore of the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation, United States. Reaching about 21–23m in length and up to 20,000kg, it possessed a long neck, small skull, and a slender whip-like tail possibly used for signalling or defence. Described by Marsh in 1877 from Colorado specimens.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Apatosaurus ajax 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

Apatosaurus ajax 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.