Mamenchisaurus is one of the sauropods, which are considered to be elephant-legged dinosaurs dominating the Upper Jurassic period. They are herbivores, though they were not as thick as their famous cousins, Apatosaurus and Argentinosaurus, they hold the record as the most impressive and longest neck over any other dinosaurs like them.
Key Facts
| Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Mamenchisaurus pronunciation | ma-MEN-chih-SORE-us |
| What does Mamenchisaurus mean? | The name means “Mamenxi Lizard” which came from the Chinese word ma “horse, men “gate” and chi “steam” and a greek word sauros meaning “lizard. It was named after its first discovery in the locality of Mamenchi Ferry in the Yangtze River in China. |
| Dinosaur type | Sauropod |
| On the menu | Herbivorous |
| Length | 15 to 35 meters (49-116 feet) |
| Height | 14 meters (46 feet) |
| Weight | 60,000 lbs |
| Life expectancy | about 80-100 years |
| Legs used to get around | Their long necks are so heavy making them move slowly with their four columnar legs which resemble the legs of an elephant. |
| Estimated top speed | About 8 mph |
| When they lived | They lived during the Upper Jurassic period, about 150M to 160M years ago. |
| Where they have been found? | Fossils have been found severral places in China. |
When & Where
The first recorded discovery of Mamenchisaurus was in Sichuan, China in 1952. Chinese Paleontologist, Chung Chien Young, described the first fossil (part of a neck) in 1954. The type is known as Mamenchisaurus constructus. It was then followed by more discoveries including those found in the Dashanpu Rock formation and in 1972 paleontologists Young & Zhao recovered a Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis.
Size & Weight
The first discovery was not able to be measured since it was considered to be incomplete and too short. While the 1972 remains were estimated to be 72 feet long.
Mobility & Diet
Mamenchisaurus are known to move slowly on their four legs. In case of food shortage, they used to travel in groups to search and migrate to survive hunger. They did not lay eggs in nests but in a linear pattern as they walked which then hatcheed on its own. They were herbivores which means they survived by eating leaves without the need to chew them with the help of “gastroliths” which are stomach stones that help in digesting plants. Also, their teeth are blunt to help in stripping foliage. It is believed that their main food is conifers since it’s the most dominant type of plant in the sauropods era. Other food includes bennettitaleans, club mosses, cycads, Gingkos, ferns and seed ferns.
Interesting Points
- They are believed to have the lowest intelligence among all dinosaurs.
- Have hollow neck bones to help reduce the total weight of their neck
- In order to control its humongous legs and hips, they are equipped with a second brain in their spinal cord located around the hip, although this is contested.
- Had 19 neck vertebrae