Amphicoelias

†Amphicoelias is a genus of diplodocoid sauropod from the Late Jurassic (~150 Ma) Morrison Formation of Colorado, USA. Known primarily from †A. altus, it was originally described by Cope in 1877. A former species, 'A. fragillimus,' based on a now-lost gigantic vertebra, may have represented the largest animal ever known (~50-60m), though some scholars question this interpretation.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Amphicoelias 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

Amphicoelias 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.