Brachiosaurus
Brachiosaurus (meaning "Arm lizard") was a herbivorous dinosaur genus that lived in the Upper Jurassic period. The name comes from the fact that the Brachiosaur's front legs were longer than its back legs. Most other dinosaurs had back legs that were longer than their front legs or arms. Brachiosaurus was about 25 m (82 feet) long and 13-18 meters (42-60 feet) tall. It was one of the biggest dinosaurs.[1][2]
| Brachiosaurus Temporal range: Upper Jurassic
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| Bronze cast of a B. altithorax specimen outside the Field Museum of Natural History | |
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| Genus: | Brachiosaurus Riggs, 1903
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Brachiosaurus was a sauropod. Its fossils were found in North America and Asia. At full stretch, Brachiosaurus could reach heights of up to 16 meters (52 feet). The Brachiosaurus skeleton in the Humboldt Museum in Berlin, Germany is both the tallest and largest complete sauropod skeleton. This means that it is also the tallest and largest complete dinosaur skeleton.
Diet
Brachiosaurus was a strictly herbivorous dinosaur. Its long neck enabled it to browse foliage at heights that were inaccessible to most other herbivorous dinosaurs. Fossil evidence suggests that it fed primarily on conifers, cycads, and other tall plants. Its peg-like teeth were adapted for stripping leaves rather than chewing, indicating a feeding strategy focused on high-browsing.[1][2]
Behavior
Brachiosaurus likely exhibited social behavior, potentially moving in loose herds for protection. Its massive size and slow locomotion suggest it relied on height and bulk as defense mechanisms against predators. The structure of its neck and limbs indicates that it could feed efficiently over a wide vertical range without needing to move extensively, reducing energy expenditure while foraging.
Brachiosaurus Media
Holotype material during excavation. Dorsal vertebrae, sacrum, ilium and ribs are in view.
An expedition member lying by the humerus during the excavation in 1900
Riggs (right) and laboratory assistant working on the holotype bones in 1899. The still-jacketed thighbone can be seen on the left.
Composite skeletal reconstruction, scaled to the holotype
Scapulocoracoid BYU 9462 has been seen as a possible Brachiosaurus bone; it was originally assigned to Ultrasauros (now a junior synonym of Supersaurus), Museum of Ancient Life
Referred forelimb bone (humerus) from Potter Creek, USNM 21903
Skeleton of Giraffatitan, formerly B. brancai, Natural History Museum, Berlin
Diagram incorporating bones of both Brachiosaurus and Giraffatitan, by William Diller Matthew, 1915
Middle caudal vertebrae of Lusotitan, formerly B. atalaiensis
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Brachiosaurus | Natural History Museum (in en). www.nhm.ac.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 published, Joseph Castro. Brachiosaurus: Facts About the Giraffe-like Dinosaur (in en). Live Science (2016-03-16). Retrieved 2026-01-07.