Taxonomic Rank: Suborder

Sauropodomorpha Dinosaurs

Herbivorous saurischians characterized by elongated necks, columnar limbs, and enormous body volumes.

Cataloged Sauropodomorpha Members (22 total)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Amargasaurus (Amargasaurus cazaui Salgado & Bonaparte, 1991) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Cretaceous PeriodHerbivore

Amargasaurus

Amargasaurus cazaui Salgado & Bonaparte, 1991

A striking, double-sailed dicraeosaurid sauropod from Argentina sporting parallel rows of tall neck spines.

8.5–10 m (27.9–32.8 ft)
2.5–4.0 metric tons (5,512–8,818 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Apatosaurus (Apatosaurus ajax Marsh, 1877) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Apatosaurus

Apatosaurus ajax Marsh, 1877

A colossal, heavily built diplodocid sauropod characterized by thick cervical vertebrae and a whip-like tail.

21–23 m (68.9–75.5 ft)
18.0–28.0 metric tons (39,683–61,729 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Argentinosaurus (Argentinosaurus huinculensis Bonaparte & Coria, 1993) in lateral profileFeatured SpecimenSauropodomorpha
Cretaceous PeriodHerbivore

Argentinosaurus

Argentinosaurus huinculensis Bonaparte & Coria, 1993

Among the largest and most massive terrestrial animals known to science, with scaled estimates reaching 65 to 80 metric tons based on fragmentary titanosaur remains.

30–35 m (98.4–114.8 ft)
65.0–80.0 metric tons (143,300–176,370 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Barosaurus (Barosaurus lentus Marsh, 1890) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Barosaurus

Barosaurus lentus Marsh, 1890

A massive diplodocid with an extraordinarily long neck and shorter tail than Diplodocus.

24–27 m (78.7–88.6 ft)
18.0–26.0 metric tons (39,683–57,320 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Brachiosaurus (Brachiosaurus altithorax Riggs, 1903) in lateral profileFeatured SpecimenSauropodomorpha
Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Brachiosaurus

Brachiosaurus altithorax Riggs, 1903

A monumental sauropod with forelimbs longer than hindlimbs, adapted for high-canopy browsing in Late Jurassic North America.

22–26 m (72.2–85.3 ft)
28.0–40.0 metric tons (61,729–88,185 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Brontosaurus (Brontosaurus excelsus Marsh, 1879) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Brontosaurus

Brontosaurus excelsus Marsh, 1879

The iconic 'thunder lizard', resurrected as a valid and distinct genus of diplodocid sauropod in 2015.

20–22 m (65.6–72.2 ft)
15.0–23.0 metric tons (33,069–50,706 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Camarasaurus (Camarasaurus supremus Cope, 1877) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Camarasaurus

Camarasaurus supremus Cope, 1877

The most abundant sauropod of Late Jurassic North America, noted for its boxy skull and chisel-like teeth.

15–18 m (49.2–59.1 ft)
12.0–20.0 metric tons (26,455–44,092 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Cetiosaurus (Cetiosaurus oxoniensis Phillips, 1871) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Cetiosaurus

Cetiosaurus oxoniensis Phillips, 1871

The 'whale lizard', the first sauropod dinosaur discovered and named in scientific history.

14–16 m (45.9–52.5 ft)
10.0–15.0 metric tons (22,046–33,069 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Dicraeosaurus (Dicraeosaurus hansemanni Janensch, 1914) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Dicraeosaurus

Dicraeosaurus hansemanni Janensch, 1914

A specialized short-necked diplodocoid from Late Jurassic Tanzania bearing tall, bifurcated dorsal spines.

12–14 m (39.4–45.9 ft)
4.0–6.0 metric tons (8,818–13,228 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Diplodocus (Diplodocus carnegii Hatcher, 1901) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Diplodocus

Diplodocus carnegii Hatcher, 1901

A slender, extremely elongated sauropod of Late Jurassic North America equipped with an 80-vertebra whip-like tail.

24–27 m (78.7–88.6 ft)
12.0–16.0 metric tons (26,455–35,274 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Dreadnoughtus (Dreadnoughtus schrani Lacovara et al., 2014) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Cretaceous PeriodHerbivore

Dreadnoughtus

Dreadnoughtus schrani Lacovara et al., 2014

The 'fearing nothing' super-titanosaur from Argentina, with the most complete skeleton of any giant titanosaur.

24–26 m (78.7–85.3 ft)
35.0–49.0 metric tons (77,162–108,026 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Eoraptor (Eoraptor lunensis Sereno et al., 1993) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Triassic PeriodOmnivore

Eoraptor

Eoraptor lunensis Sereno et al., 1993

A diminutive Late Triassic dinosaur from Argentina whose phylogenetic position between basal Theropoda and stem-Sauropodomorpha has been extensively debated.

0.9–1.2 m (3.0–3.9 ft)
4–8 kg (9–18 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Giraffatitan (Giraffatitan brancai Janensch, 1914) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Giraffatitan

Giraffatitan brancai Janensch, 1914

A towering, high-browsing brachiosaurid sauropod from the Late Jurassic Tendaguru beds of Tanzania.

22–25 m (72.2–82.0 ft)
30.0–45.0 metric tons (66,139–99,208 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Mamenchisaurus (Mamenchisaurus constructus Young, 1954) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Mamenchisaurus

Mamenchisaurus constructus Young, 1954

A magnificent Asian sauropod famous for having one of the longest necks of any animal in natural history.

20–26 m (65.6–85.3 ft)
15.0–27.0 metric tons (33,069–59,525 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Melanorosaurus (Melanorosaurus readi Haughton, 1924) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Triassic PeriodHerbivore

Melanorosaurus

Melanorosaurus readi Haughton, 1924

A massive, quadrupedal basal sauropodomorph from the Late Triassic of South Africa.

7–8.5 m (23.0–27.9 ft)
1.8–3.2 metric tons (3,968–7,055 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Nigersaurus (Nigersaurus taqueti Sereno et al., 1999) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Cretaceous PeriodHerbivore

Nigersaurus

Nigersaurus taqueti Sereno et al., 1999

The 'Mesozoic lawnmower', a specialized sauropod with a wide, straight-edged mouth and 500 replaceable teeth.

8.5–9.5 m (27.9–31.2 ft)
3.5–4.5 metric tons (7,716–9,921 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Patagotitan (Patagotitan mayorum Carballido et al., 2017) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Cretaceous PeriodHerbivore

Patagotitan

Patagotitan mayorum Carballido et al., 2017

One of the most colossal land animals ever discovered, reaching 37 meters in length and weighing over 55 metric tons.

35–37.5 m (114.8–123.0 ft)
50.0–65.0 metric tons (110,231–143,300 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Plateosaurus (Plateosaurus trossingensis Fraas, 1913) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Triassic PeriodHerbivore

Plateosaurus

Plateosaurus trossingensis Fraas, 1913

The classic European 'prosauropod', a dominant Late Triassic long-necked herbivore that lived in massive herds.

5–10 m (16.4–32.8 ft)
1.0–4.0 metric tons (2,205–8,818 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Riojasaurus (Riojasaurus incertus Bonaparte, 1969) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Triassic PeriodHerbivore

Riojasaurus

Riojasaurus incertus Bonaparte, 1969

A heavy, quadrupedal Late Triassic sauropodomorph from Argentina with dense limb bones.

6–10 m (19.7–32.8 ft)
1.5–3.0 metric tons (3,307–6,614 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Shunosaurus (Shunosaurus lii Dong et al., 1983) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Shunosaurus

Shunosaurus lii Dong et al., 1983

A Middle Jurassic sauropod from China equipped with a defensive bony club and spikes on the tip of its tail.

9–11 m (29.5–36.1 ft)
3.0–5.0 metric tons (6,614–11,023 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Thecodontosaurus (Thecodontosaurus antiquus Morris, 1843) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Triassic PeriodHerbivore

Thecodontosaurus

Thecodontosaurus antiquus Morris, 1843

One of the earliest dinosaurs ever named, an agile small herbivore from the Late Triassic fissure fills of southwestern Britain.

1.5–2.1 m (4.9–6.9 ft)
10–20 kg (22–44 lbs)
Authoritative scientific paleoart reconstruction of Vulcanodon (Vulcanodon karibaensis Raath, 1972) in lateral profileSauropodomorpha
Jurassic PeriodHerbivore

Vulcanodon

Vulcanodon karibaensis Raath, 1972

An archaic Early Jurassic basal sauropod discovered beneath volcanic lava beds in Zimbabwe.

6–7.5 m (19.7–24.6 ft)
3.0–4.5 metric tons (6,614–9,921 lbs)