My Report on the Apatosaurus
...f its size, but it was really a gentle giant who did not attack its prey. If a human were looking at it you would have to stretch your neck to see its head, because with its height you would only be as tall as its shins. It wondered through what we know today as the plains of western North America. It lived during the Late Jurassic times – about 145 million years ago. Its head was very small compared to that of its body. Therefore its brain was tiny too. Due to its tiny brain we assume that it was not very intelligent either. Although since it was an herbivore it did not need to be very intelligent, because all it did all day is browse the tree tops for juicy leaves instead of stalking its prey like carnivores. Its long, tapering tail was used for self-defense if it came across an enemy. It did this by whipping it in such a way as to strike its predator with a nasty blow trying to knock it away. The fossil remains found of it show it had a remarkable skeleton. One of the best and most complete skeletons was uncovered in Utah in 1909 by scientist and dinosaur hunter Earl Douglas. This excellent skeleton led U.S. president Woodrow Wilson to declare the 8o acres surrounding the area in which it was uncovered along with other remains as Dinosaur National Monument. The bones of its long neck were strong and thick. Its tail was even longer than its neck and narrowed from a wide base to a very slim tip. There are so many bones in its tail alone that is impossible to count all the bones of a full-grown Apatosaurus. Its leg bones were extremely strong, because they had to support the weight of its body. Scientist believes that these dinosaurs used their front legs to haul themselves along in the water while the rest of their body floated. Their tails helped to propel them through the water. Therefore they believe from tracks of an Apatosaurus that they were able to swim. It had eye sockets that were set far back in its skull. It had long, slim teeth at the front of its snout that was ideal for chopping leaves and plants. Brontosaurus became the general term used for any huge sauropod. The name Brontosaurus means “ Thunder Lizard” and Apatosaurus means “Deceptive Reptile”. It lived during the late Jurassic period. Back then Dinosaurs roamed the plains of what we know today as North America when the weather conditions were warmer and wetter. The herbivores like Apatosaurus ate Cycads, ferns, ginkgoes, horsetails and conifers. These plants grew by the water edge. The Apatosaurus was able to choose from low plants by the water edge or tree top...