Species · GBIF taxon 4967500
Apatosaurus ajax
Apatosaurus ajaxApatosaurus ajax strode across Late Jurassic floodplains on massive, column-like limbs, using an elongated, whip-like tail for counterbalance and defense. Stout cervical vertebrae supported a heavily built neck, enabling sweeping, low-level browsing through ferns, cycads, and conifer foliage. Air sacs within its skeleton dramatically lightened its massive frame while supporting an efficient, avian-like respiratory system.
HerbivorePrehistoric
Licensed reference(c) AbstractionBlue, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Conifers
- Ferns
- Cycads
Predators
- Allosaurus fragilis
- Saurophaganax maximus
- Ceratosaurus nasicornis
ThreatsPredation by large theropods, seasonal drought, disease
HabitatsSemi-arid floodplains and riparian river systems
Life spanEstimated 30–70 years
Classification
- FamilyDiplodocidae
- SpeciesApatosaurus ajax
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct species known only from fossils; entirely safe to examine in museum collections.
Responsible observation
- Museum Viewing: Examine mounted skeletons to observe the pneumatized, weight-reducing hollows in its vertebrae.
- Fossil Ethics: Report any potential Morrison Formation fossil finds to professional paleontologists on site.
Predator (c) Allosaurus_SDNHM.jpg, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Competitor (c) Ryan Somma, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Matthew Bellemare / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) DataBase Center for Life Science (DBCLS), some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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