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Massospondylus
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Massospondylus was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived
in Southern Africa and North America,
about 208 to 204 million years ago, during the early
Jurassic period.
Massospondylus was around
13 feet (4 meters) long, and its name, chosen by
Sir Richard Owen
(who also coined the term of "dinosaur")
means "massive vertebra" or "elongated vertebra"
(referring to the large bones in the creature's neck).
Massospondylus had a tiny head on the end of a very long and flexible
neck. Its hands had five fingers, and could be used for both walking
and grasping, and its thumbs were each equipped with a large claw.
Polished stones ("gastroliths") have been found inside Massospondylus skeletons. Just like
many birds do, Massospondylus is believed to have swallowed stones to help
it grind up tough food. When the stones were worn smooth and of no
further use, Massospondylus would have regurgitated the stones, and swallowed
new rough rocks to replace them.
Six Massospondylus eggs were found in
South Africa
in the 1970s. When the eggs were finally opened and the
fossilized
extracted after a 30 year wait, the eggs were found to contain
near-hatchlings with no teeth. The lack of teeth has led some scientists
to conclude that some degree of after-birth care may have been necessary,
because the hatchlings would probably have been unable to feed themselves.
Massospondylus was a herbivore (plant-eater) that lived from 208 to 204 million years ago
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Massospondylus Facts
Here is a summary of some of the key facts about Massospondylus:
- Massospondylus was a genus of dinosaur.
- "Massospondylus" means "longer vertebra". This name was chosen by Sir Richard Owen in 1854.
- Massospondylus was a member of the Saurischia ("lizard-hipped") order of dinosaurs. What this means, is that although Massospondylus was not closely related to lizards, it did have similarly shaped pelvic bones.
- Massospondylus was a Prosauropod - a member of a group of related early herbivorous (plant-eating) dinosaurs which had long necks, small heads, shorter forelimbs than hind limbs, and a thumb claw.
- Massospondylus lived between about 208 million years ago and 204 million years ago, during the late Jurassic period.
- Massospondylus lived in North America and Southern Africa.
- Massospondylus was a herbivore (plant-eater).
- Massospondylus is thought to have swallowed stones which would have been used to help grind up tough plant material (some modern birds do the same thing). Fossils of these stones ("gastroliths") have been found in the same rocks as Massospondylus.
- Massospondylus was about 13 feet (4 meters) long.
- Massospondylus weighed about 1.5 tons.
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Massospondylus Books Here are some books from Amazon.com:
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
By Tim Batty
Haynes Publishing UK Released: November 26th, 2019 Paperback (192 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $6.95* Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your account will only be charged when we ship the item.* *(As of 00:15 Pacific 30 May 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description: Dinosaurs: Classification, Time, Size, Diet & More! (Haynes Pocket Manual)- Manufacturer: Haynes Publishing UK
- Brand: Haynes Publishing UK
- ISBN: 1785216775
- EAN: 9781785216770
Details:- Paperback
- Format: Illustrated
- Edition: Illustrated
- Number of Pages: 192
- Author: Tim Batty
- Publication Date: November 26th, 2019
- Release Date: November 26th, 2019
Physical Description:- Size: 6.375 Inches by 5.0 Inches by 0.75 Inches
- Weight: 0.6834330122 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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Massospondylus Toys Here are some toys/games from Amazon.com:
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
Lunarable
 | Lowest New Price: $19.99* In stock. Usually ships within 3 to 4 days.* *(As of 00:15 Pacific 30 May 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description: Lunarable Jurassic Piggy Bank, 2 Massospondylus Running for Their Lives Yangchuanosaurus Hunting, Ceramic Coin Bank Money Box for Cash Saving, 3.6" X 3.2", Deep Sky Blue Multicolor- Manufacturer: Lunarable
- Brand: Lunarable
- Model: coin_138247
- EAN: 8682403122361
- PartNumber: coin_138247
Physical Description:- Size: 3.6 Inches by 3.1 Inches by 3.1 Inches
- Weight: 0.725 Pounds
- Color: Deep Sky Blue Multicolor
Features:- Your purchase will help victims of recent major earthquakes in Turkey since we donate a percentage of our profits to local NGOs helping with quake relief efforts.
- Material and size - %100 White Glossy Ceramic. Size: 3.6" height & 3.2" width
- Features - Wrap-around printed art on premium quality ceramic. Highly unique. Versatile. Fun.
- Designer artwork - This coin bank will encourage and motivate everyone to save money!
- Durable - Great decorative object with bold vivid colors & clear image. Long lasting. No fading.
- Printed - with state of the art digital printing technology. Proudly designed & printed in the USA.
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Hasbro Gaming Multicolor Toy
 | Lowest New Price: $12.99* In Stock.* *(As of 00:15 Pacific 30 May 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description: Hasbro Gaming Candy Land Kingdom Of Sweet Adventures Board Game For Kids Ages 3 & Up (Amazon Exclusive), Red- Manufacturer: Hasbro
- Brand: Hasbro Gaming
- Model: 4700 S5
- UPCs: 964124365356, 698887726467, 757965195066, 074994500853, 743138450247, 789911510180, 799783384857, 738095203432, 791836961374, 032244047008, 653569441243
- EANs: 0743138450247, 0789911510180, 5965963605684, 0757965195066, 7790020000342, 7662558201242, 0074994500853, 5334999137047, 5711008909725, 0964124365356, 0791836961374, 5889332833075, 0799783384857, 0738095203432, 0698887726467, 5965963591109
- PartNumber: 4700
Details:Physical Description:- Size: 10.63 Inches by 1.18 Inches by 15.75 Inches
- Weight: 1.1243575362 Pounds
- Color: Multicolor
Features:- CLASSIC BEGINNER GAME: Do you remember playing Candy Land when you were a kid. Introduce new generations to this sweet kids' board game
- RACE TO THE CASTLE: Players encounter all kinds of "delicious" surprises as they move their cute gingerbread man pawn around the path in a race to the castle
- NO READING REQUIRED TO PLAY: For kids ages 3 and up, Candy Land can be a great game for kids who haven't learned how to read yet
- GREAT GAME FOR LITTLE ONES: The Candy Land board game features colored cards, sweet destinations, and fun illustrations that kids love
- Sweet version of the classic boardgame features a race to the castle
- You encounter all kinds of delicious surprises
- Includes gameboard, 4 pawns, card deck and instructions
Click here for more information |
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Hasbro Gaming Multicolor Toy
 | Lowest New Price: $16.74* In Stock.* *(As of 00:15 Pacific 30 May 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description: Chutes and Ladders: Disney Princess Edition Board Game for Kids Ages 3 and Up, Preschool Game for 2-4 Players (Amazon Exclusive)- Manufacturer: Hasbro
- Brand: Hasbro Gaming
- Model: F3207
- UPC: 195166134062
- EAN: 0195166134062
- PartNumber: F3207
Details:Physical Description:- Size: 10.512 Inches by 1.614 Inches by 10.512 Inches
- Color: Multicolor
Features:- DISNEY PRINCESS THEMED BOARD GAME: Play with Disney Princess favorite characters in this charming edition of the Chutes and Ladders board game. It’s a fun game for preschoolers ages 3 and up
- 4 CUSTOMIZABLE PRINCESS HEART PAWNS: Includes 12 Princess Affinity Stickers representing every Disney Princess character. Kids can have fun applying them to their pawns and moving around the gameboard
- FANTASTICAL AND VIBRANT GAMEBOARD: It's a magical climbing and sliding adventure with colorful gameboard artwork featuring beloved Disney Princess characters and scenes
- NO READING REQUIRED GAME: This game can be a good choice for kids who haven't learned how to read yet. The numbers on the gameboard give preschoolers a chance to practice their numbers
- GIFT FOR PRESCHOOLERS: Chutes and Ladders: Disney Princess Edition game for 2-4 players is a great birthday or holiday gift for girls and boys. It’s a fun at-home activity for kids for ages 3 and up
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