The Abydosaurus was a gigantic brachiosaurid sauropod dinosaur that lived approximately 105 million years ago during the Lower Cretaceous period. It was one of the largest animals ever to walk the earth, measuring over 18 meters long and weighing around 30 tons. While its size was impressive, its most distinguishing feature was its small rectangular head and long neck, almost twice as long as its body.
Key Facts
| Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Abydosaurus pronunciation | Ah-BEE-dos-SORE-us |
| What does Abydosaurus mean? | Abydo’s Lizard |
| Dinosaur type | Sauropod |
| On the menu | Herbivorous |
| Length | 20 meters |
| Height | 6.5 meters |
| Weight | 25 tons |
| Life expectancy | Unknown |
| Legs used to get around | Quadrupedal |
| Estimated top speed | Unknown |
| When they lived | Lower Cretaceous era, 105 million years ago |
| Where they have been found? | Utah, USA |
When & Where
The first Abydosaurus remains were discovered in the Dinosaur National Monument in Utah, USA, in 2010. The remains consisted of a complete head and neck – a rare find for paleontologists as most dinosaur bones are found scattered and incomplete. The species was officially named in the same year by paleontologists D. J. Chure and B. B. Britt.
The name Abydosaurus means “Abydo’s lizard,” Abydos being a reference to Egyptian mythology. Abydos is a Greek name for a city located along the Nile, where Osiris’ head and neck were said to be buried. Similarly, the Abydosaurus head and neck were also found buried together along a river bed.
Size & Weight
Like all sauropods, the Abydosaurus was a gigantic creature. It measured over 18 meters (60 feet) in length and weighed nearly 30 tons. In comparison, the largest African elephant on record weighed only 6.6 tons.
Mobility & Diet
The Abydosaurus was a quadruped, meaning it got around on four legs. It is believed to have been a relatively slow creature due to its size and weight.
The Abydosaurus was a herbivore, meaning it ate plants. It is thought to have used its small head and long neck to reach leaves high up in trees and plants.
Interesting Points
- The Abydosaurus is one of the rarest dinosaurs, with only a single complete specimen known to exist.
- It closely resembled the Brachiosaurus, another sauropod dinosaur known for its long neck.
- Despite living millions of years apart, this dinosaur’s skull closely resembled that of the Giraffatitan.
- Due to its relatively small head and thus brain, the Abydosaurus was likely not the smartest dinosaur around.
Featured Image Credit: Nobu Tamura, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
