Supersaurus is a type of dinosaur that belonged to a group known as sauropods. Sauropods were huge, long-necked dinosaurs that roamed the Earth during the Jurassic period, which happened around 153 to 145 million years ago.
The name “Supersaurus” means “super lizard.” Its most well-known species, Supersaurus vivianae, was first found in Colorado in 1972. Fossils were discovered in a place called the Morrison Formation. Supersaurus was one of the longest dinosaurs ever, with some individuals estimated to be over 40 meters long, which is about as long as a blue whale!
The first bones found were mostly from the shoulder and tail, and it took a while before scientists officially named it Supersaurus in 1985. Since then, researchers have found more complete skeletons, helping to understand what this gigantic dinosaur looked like and how it lived.
There was also a name called Ultrasauros that is now considered the same as Supersaurus. It created some confusion because it was believed to be a different dinosaur at first. Researchers later found that the bones attributed to Ultrasauros were actually part of the Supersaurus skeleton.
Supersaurus had an enormous neck, which was one of its defining features. It had a long and slender body, built differently compared to some robust sauropods like Apatosaurus. Scientists believe Supersaurus probably looked similar to Apatosaurus but was overall more lightly built.
Additionally, researchers suspect there might be another species of Supersaurus named S. lourinhanensis, discovered in Portugal and also living during the same time.
In summary, Supersaurus was a giant, long-necked dinosaur known for its size and length. Its fossils continue to teach us about the incredible diversity and grandeur of dinosaurs that once walked the planet!