Dicraeosaurus
| Dicraeosaurus Temporal range: Upper Jurassic
155–150 mya | |
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| The skeleton of a young Dicraeosaurus. | |
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| Genus: | Dicraeosaurus
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Dicraeosaurus Media
Restoration of D. hansemanni
Size comparison of Dicraeosauridae. D. hansemanni in brown, D. sattleri in red.
Dicreosaurus
Dicraeosaurus is an extinct species of dinosaur. It lived about 155-150 million years ago, during the time of its predators, Allosaurus and Ceratosaurus.
Characteristics
It was named for the spines on the back of the neck. In general, sauropods had long necks and tails, skinny bodies and limbs, and tiny brains and heads.
They were light in comparison with the brachiosaurs. Their vertebrae were a lattice of bony struts, used to reduce weight and take maximum stress.
The family Dicraeosauridae had shorter tails, larger heads and longer neural spines along their neck and back.
Fossils
The first Dicraeosaurus fossil was discovered in 1914.
Fossils of Dicraeosaurus have been found in the rocks of Tendaguru Hill in Tanzania. These rocks also have fossils of an African Brachiosaurus and a Kentrosaurus. The difference in size between these animals suggests they would have browsed for vegetation at different levels. This allowed them to co-exist without significant competition.
There is also speculation that female Dicraeosaurus were more dominant than males.