Camarasaurus is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, around 155 to 145 million years ago. It roamed what we now call North America. Fossils of Camarasaurus have been found in the Morrison Formation, which is famous for its dinosaur discoveries.
Camarasaurus means “chambered lizard.” This name comes from its unique vertebrae, which had hollow spaces. It belongs to a group called sauropods, which are known for their long necks and massive bodies. Camarasaurus had a distinct blunt snout and a square-shaped skull.
There are four recognized species of Camarasaurus:
1. **Camarasaurus supremus** – This is the largest species and is often referred to as the “supreme chambered lizard.”
2. **Camarasaurus grandis**
3. **Camarasaurus lentus**
4. **Camarasaurus lewisi** – This is debated; some think it should be its own genus called Cathetosaurus.
Camarasaurus was discovered in 1877 by a paleontologist named Edward Drinker Cope. The first remains found included several vertebrae, which helped in describing the dinosaur.
Fossils of Camarasaurus are quite common, with over 500 known specimens. Compared to other dinosaurs, these fossils are often well-preserved. This dinosaur could reach lengths of up to 23 meters (75 feet) and weighed as much as 47 metric tons (about 51 tons). Its robust skull housed strong teeth that allowed it to eat tougher plant materials.
Camarasaurus had a moderately long neck made of 12 vertebrae. Its tail was even longer, made up of 53 vertebrae. The vertebrae had air-filled spaces, making them lighter and helping the dinosaur breathe better.
These dinosaurs lived in a habitat that was semiarid, featuring wet and dry seasons. They shared their environment with many other dinosaurs like Stegosaurus and Diplodocus, as well as predators like Allosaurus.
Camarasaurus is a key dinosaur in the study of the Jurassic period, and researchers continue to learn more about it through its fossil record and surrounding ecosystem.