The Rebbachisaurus was a sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Lower Cretaceous period, approximately 112 million years ago. This dinosaur was also a member of the Rebbachisauridae family, a group of similar sauropod dinosaurs that lived during the Cretaceous Era in parts of Europe, North America, South America, Africa, and Central Asia.
Key facts
| Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Rebbachisaurus pronunciation | Re-bash-i-sore-us |
| What does Rebbachisaurus mean? | Rebbachisaurus means “Rebbach lizard” |
| Dinosaur type | Sauropod |
| On the menu | Herbivore |
| Length | 66′ (20 meters) |
| Height | 46′ (14 meters) |
| Weight | 15000 lbs (7000 kg) |
| Life expectancy | Unknown |
| Legs used to get around | Quadrupedal |
| Estimated top speed | Unknown |
| When they lived | Lower Cretaceous Period, 112-99 million years ago. |
| Where they have been found? | Remains of the Rebbachisaurus were discovered in Morocco in North Africa. |
When & Where
In 1948 and 1952, French paleontologist Rene Lavocat discovered the remains of the Rebacchisaurus which included ten ribs, two bones (which may have belonged to the pelvis), the sacrum, the humerus, eleven vertebrae, and the right shoulder blade.
Size & Weight
Although there is not much research on the size and weight of the Rebbachisaurus, studies suggest that this dinosaur may have reached a length of 20 meters (66’), a height of 14 meters (46’), and a weight of 7000 kilos (15000 lbs).
Mobility & Diet
This dinosaur was a herbivore. The Rebbachisaurus may have possibly used its long neck to reach great heights to munch on plant materials such as ferns and conifers during the Early Cretaceous Period. Given their diet, these dinosaurs are not very fast.
Interesting Points
- It has tall neural spines along its vertebrae that start from its neck all the way down to its tail for its protection.
- There are currently 5 species of this dinosaur that have been discovered by paleontologists
Featured Image Credit: Nobu Tamura, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
