Fauna
Species

Zby atlanticus

Zby atlanticus

Zby atlanticus was a heavy-bodied turiasaurian sauropod that browsed the coastal floodplains of the Iberian Peninsula during the Late Jurassic. Distinguishable by a prominent backward-projecting ridge on its forelimb bones, it possessed massive pillared limbs adapted for supporting vast body weight across marshy terrain. Its broad, spoon-shaped teeth allowed it to shear tough conifer needles and cycad fronds alongside other massive herbivores.

PrehistoricSauropodHerbivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyConifers, Cycads, Seed ferns
Predators
  • Torvosaurus gurneyi
  • Allosaurus europaeus
  • Ceratosaurus
ThreatsPredation by apex megalosauroids, drought, and environmental change
HabitatsCoastal lagoons, floodplains, and open woodlands
Life span40–70 years
  1. FamilyTuriasauridae
  2. SpeciesZby atlanticus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Extinct species known only from Late Jurassic fossil material; completely safe to observe.
Responsible observation
  • Museum Examination: Study the holotype forelimb and tooth material housed in Portuguese paleontological collections.
  • Skeletal Clues: Look for the diagnostic prominent posterior ridge running along the upper shaft of the ulna.
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