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Diplodocus
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Diplodocus was a massive plant-eater (herbivore) that lived in the
Jurassic period,
155 to 145 million years ago, in North America.
Diplodocus was usually around 85 feet (25.9 meters) long, although some specimens were
as long as 100 feet (30.5 meters).
Most of its length was taken up its 24 feet (7.3 meters) neck, and its 46 feet (14 meters)
tail. Its body was only about 13 feet (4 meters) long, and its head was comparatively
tiny, just 2 feet (60 centimeters) long.
Diplodocus probably only weighed around 11 tons, about one third as much
as Apatosaurus, and only
about one eighth as much as
Brachiosaurus.
The first
fossil
skeleton of Diplodocus was found at Como Bluff,
Wyoming
by Benjamin Mudge and Samuel Wendell Williston in 1878. This specimen was
named Diplodocus longus (meaning "long double-beam")
by
Othniel C. Marsh.
Fossils of
Diplodocus are common, and many other specimens have been found, except
for the skull which is usually missing, even from otherwise complete
skeletons.
Over the years, there has been much debate over Diplodocus' posture
and lifestyle:
- Othniel C. Marsh,
originally suggested the creature was probably aquatic based on the position
of the animal's nasal openings in the skull. However, this theory
has subsequently been discarded based on the fact that the water pressure on
the animal's chest wall would have made it impossible for Diplodocus
to breathe.
- An alternative explanation for the position of the nasal openings that
has been proposed, is that Diplodocus may have had a trunk. However,
research regarding the animal's facial nerve and positioning of Diplodocus'
nostrils does not seem to support this theory.
- When Diplodocus was first discovered, it was often depicted with its
limbs splayed in a sprawling lizard-like posture. This theory was also rejected:
in this case, W. J. Holland demonstrated, that because of the great
size of the animal's rib cage, a sprawling posture would have meant that
the animal could only walk with the help of large trenches to pull its
belly through!
- Although many depictions of Diplodocus show the animal with its head
up high, some scientists now argue that such a posture would not have been
possible, simply because the heart would not have been able to sustain the
blood pressure necessary to get enough oxygen to the brain. Additionally, in
further support of this position, it has been argued that the structure of
Diplodocus' neck vertebrae would not have permitted the animal to bend
its neck far upwards.
- Evidence has recently been found, suggesting
that Diplodocus and its relatives may have had
spines made of keratin on its back, perhaps similar to
the spines found on modern Iguanas.
Diplodocus is depicted with this feature in
Walking with Dinosaurs
 .
Diplodocus was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived from 155 to 145 million years ago
Related Information & Resources
See Also
Diplodocus Facts
Here is a summary of some of the key facts about Diplodocus:
- Diplodocus was a genus of dinosaur.
- "Diplodocus" means "double beam" (referring to double-beamed bones in the underside of its tail). The name was chosen by Othniel C. Marsh in 1878.
- Diplodocus was a member of the Saurischia ("lizard-hipped") order of dinosaurs. What this means, is that although Diplodocus was not closely related to lizards, it did have similarly shaped pelvic bones.
- Diplodocus was a Sauropod - a member of a group of related large quadrupedal herbivorous (plant-eating) dinosaur with long necks.
- Diplodocus lived between about 155 million years ago and 145 million years ago, during the Jurassic period.
- Diplodocus lived in North America.
- Diplodocus was a herbivore (plant-eater).
- Diplodocus is thought to have been a grazer, and probably could not have raised its head very far above the ground level.
- Diplodocus was usually about 85 feet (25.9 meters) long, although sometimes it grew as long as 100 feet (30.5 meters).
- Diplodocus weighed about 11 tons.
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Diplodocus Books
Here are some books from Amazon.com:
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By Julie Abery
Amicus Ink
Released: August 13th, 2024
Board book (20 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $9.99*
In Stock*
*(As of 18:01 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Baby Diplodocus- Manufacturer: Amicus Ink
- EAN: 9798889880103
- PartNumber: 9798889880103
Details:- Product Category: Board book
- Number of Pages: 20
- Author: Julie Abery
- Publication Date: August 13th, 2024
- Release Date: August 13th, 2024
Physical Description:- Size: 6.0 inches by 6.0 inches by 0.025 inches
- Weight: 0.44974301448 pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Sally Lee
Capstone Press
Released: July 31st, 2014
Paperback (32 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $8.99*
In Stock*
*(As of 18:01 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Diplodocus (Smithsonian Little Explorer) (Little Paleontologist)- Manufacturer: Capstone Press
- Brand: Capstone Press
- ISBN: 1491408219
- EAN: 9781491408216
- PartNumber: illustrations
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 32
- Author: Sally Lee
- Publication Date: July 31st, 2014
- Release Date: July 31st, 2014
Physical Description:- Size: 8.75 inches by 7.75 inches by 0.13 inches
- Weight: 0.014 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Campbell Books
Campbell Books
Released: August 1st, 2023
Board book (10 pages)
 | List Price: $8.99*
Lowest New Price: $6.99*
In Stock*
*(As of 18:01 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Diplodocus (Hello Dinosaur)- Manufacturer: Campbell Books
- ISBN: 1035016206
- EAN: 9781035016204
- PartNumber: 9781035016204
Details:- Product Category: Board book
- Number of Pages: 10
- Author: Campbell Books
- Publication Date: August 1st, 2023
- Release Date: August 1st, 2023
Physical Description:- Size: 7.15 inches by 7.15 inches by 0.5999988 inches
- Weight: 0.70106999316 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Rebecca Sabelko
BELLWETHER MEDIA
Released: August 1st, 2019
Paperback (32 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $8.99*
In Stock*
*(As of 18:01 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Diplodocus (The World of Dinosaurs) (Epic: The World of Dinosaurs)- Manufacturer: Bellwether Media
- Brand: BELLWETHER MEDIA
- ISBN: 1618917285
- EAN: 9781618917287
Details:- Paperback
- Format: Illustrated
- Edition: Illustrated
- Number of Pages: 32
- Author: Rebecca Sabelko
- Publication Date: August 1st, 2019
- Release Date: August 1st, 2019
Physical Description:- Size: 8.75 Inches by 7.25 Inches by 0.25 Inches
- Weight: 0.2 pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Campbell Books
Campbell Books
Released: April 28th, 2022
Board book (0 pages)
| Lowest New Price: $9.63*
In Stock*
*(As of 18:01 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Diplodocus (Hello Dinosaur, 2)- Manufacturer: Campbell Books
- ISBN: 1529071046
- EAN: 9781529071047
Details:- Product Category: Board book
- Edition: Main Market
- Number of Pages: 0
- Author: Campbell Books
- Publication Date: April 28th, 2022
- Release Date: April 28th, 2022
Physical Description:- Size: 7.16534 inches by 7.12597 inches by 0.66929 inches
- Weight: 0.661386786 pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Peter Curtis
Macmillan Children's Books
Released: May 13th, 2021
Board book (0 pages)
 | Lowest Used Price: $6.50*
In Stock*
*(As of 18:01 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Dinosaur Munch! The Diplodocus (The World of Dinosaur Roar!)- Manufacturer: Macmillan Children's Books
- Brand: Macmillan Children's Books
- ISBN: 1529051568
- EAN: 9781529051568
Details:- Product Category: Board book
- Edition: New Edit/Cover - Reissue
- Number of Pages: 0
- Authors: Peter Curtis, Jeanne Willis
- Publication Date: May 13th, 2021
- Release Date: May 13th, 2021
Physical Description:- Size: 7.36219 inches by 6.06298 inches by 0.7874 inches
- Weight: 0.6834330122 pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Aurore Petit
Gecko Press â„¢
Released: March 5th, 2024
Hardcover (44 pages)
 | List Price: $18.99*
Lowest New Price: $9.50*
In Stock*
*(As of 18:01 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
My Baby Sister Is a Diplodocus- Manufacturer: Gecko Press â„¢
- ISBN: 1776575725
- EAN: 9781776575725
- PartNumber: 9781776575725
Details:- Hardcover
- Format: Picture Book
- Number of Pages: 44
- Author: Aurore Petit
- Publication Date: March 5th, 2024
- Release Date: March 5th, 2024
Physical Description:- Size: 6.8 inches by 9.7 inches by 0.5 inches
- Weight: 2.314853751 pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Lori Dittmer
Creative Paperbacks
Released: August 8th, 2023
Paperback (24 pages)
 | List Price: $10.99*
Lowest New Price: $8.56*
In Stock*
*(As of 18:01 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Diplodocus (Seedlings Dinosaurs)- Manufacturer: Creative Paperbacks
- ISBN: 1682770540
- EAN: 9781682770542
- PartNumber: 9781682770542
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 24
- Author: Lori Dittmer
- Publication Date: August 8th, 2023
- Release Date: August 8th, 2023
Physical Description:- Size: 8.75 inches by 8.5 inches by 0.25 inches
- Weight: 0.24912235606 pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Rashmi Sirdeshpande
Kane/Miller Book Publishers
Released: August 1st, 2023
Hardcover (32 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $13.99*
In Stock*
*(As of 18:01 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Never Let a Diplodocus Draw- Manufacturer: Kane/Miller Book Publishers
- ISBN: 1684645808
- EAN: 9781684645800
- PartNumber: 9781684645800
Details:- Hardcover
- Format: Picture Book
- Number of Pages: 32
- Author: Rashmi Sirdeshpande
- Publication Date: August 1st, 2023
- Release Date: August 1st, 2023
Physical Description:- Size: 11.6 inches by 10.6 inches by 0.6 inches
- Weight: 1.15081300764 pounds
Click here for more information |
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