Astrophocaudia is an extinct type of dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 112 to 106 million years ago. This dinosaur is a sauropod, which means it was part of a group known for their long necks and large bodies.
The remains of Astrophocaudia were discovered in Texas, specifically in an area called the Paluxy Formation. The species was named Astrophocaudia slaughteri in 2012, in honor of the paleontologist Robert Slaughter, who played a key role in finding the fossils.
### Discovery and Naming
The first dinosaur fossils in North America were found in the 19th century. Some of these early finds, like the dinosaurs Astrodon and Pleurocoelus, were based on pieces such as teeth and bones. Over time, more remains were assigned to these names, but many were later reclassified.
In the 1960s, Robert Slaughter found important fossils now known as SMU 61732 and SMU 203/73655. In 1974, paleontologist Wann Langston Jr. classified them as belonging to Pleurocoelus. Many years later, Michael D. D’Emic, who was studying at the University of Michigan, examined these fossils closely.
D’Emic introduced the name Astrophocaudia, which has a couple of meanings. One meaning is “non-twisting tail” because of the way its tail bones were connected. Another way to look at it is “star tail,” based on the shape of the tail bones when viewed from behind. The first part comes from the Greek word for star, and the second part refers to the tail.
### Description
The main fossil of Astrophocaudia includes one tooth and several bones from its skeleton. The bones found suggest that this dinosaur was a single, large individual. It is estimated that Astrophocaudia could have been around 36 feet long and weighed about 6,300 pounds.
Astrophocaudia can be recognized by unique features, such as the way certain bones fit together. It also had a slightly curved bone part when viewed from above, making it stand apart from other dinosaurs of its time.
### Classification
In his research, D’Emic placed Astrophocaudia in a group of dinosaurs called the Somphospondyli, which includes many other large sauropods. This positioning helps scientists understand where it fits in the family tree of dinosaurs.
In summary, Astrophocaudia is an interesting dinosaur from an important time. Its discovery helps us learn more about dinosaurs that roamed North America millions of years ago.