Atlasaurus is a fascinating type of dinosaur that lived during the Middle Jurassic period, around 167 to 164 million years ago. These dinosaurs roamed the land of what is now North Africa.
The name “Atlasaurus” comes from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, where the first bones were found. The name means “Atlas lizard,” and it makes sense since Atlasaurus is a large dinosaur. It could grow to be about 15 meters long, which is like the length of a school bus.
The first Atlasaurus bones were discovered in 1981, but scientists studied them further and officially described the species in 1999. The dinosaur’s full scientific name is Atlasaurus imelakei. The “imelakei” part comes from Arabic, meaning “giant.”
Atlasaurus had an interesting body shape. Its neck was shorter than that of some other long-necked dinosaurs, like Brachiosaurus. However, it had proportionately larger skulls and longer limbs. Its teeth were spoon-shaped, which helped it to eat plants.
Scientists believe that Atlasaurus was a herbivore, eating leaves and other vegetation. The dinosaur had a long tail used for balance and communication.
At first, Atlasaurus was thought to be a simple type of sauropod called “cetiosaur.” But with more research, scientists now think it is more closely related to Brachiosaurus.
In summary, Atlasaurus was a large, plant-eating dinosaur that lived in what we now call Morocco. Its unique features and size make it an important part of dinosaurs’ fascinating history.