**Anchisaurus: A Small Dinosaur from the Past**
**Time Period**
Anchisaurus lived during the Early Jurassic period, about 200 to 195 million years ago. Fossils of this dinosaur have been found in northeast United States, specifically in the Upper Portland Formation.
**What is Anchisaurus?**
Anchisaurus is a type of dinosaur known as a sauropodomorph. This term describes early dinosaurs that eventually evolved into the giant long-necked sauropods like Brachiosaurus and Apatosaurus.
**Name Meaning**
The name “Anchisaurus” comes from Greek words meaning “near lizard.” It was named in the late 1800s, following some confusion over previous names that had already been used for other animals.
**Discovery**
The first bones of this dinosaur were discovered in 1818. Workers found some bones while digging a well in Connecticut, and for a while, people mistakenly thought they were human bones. More complete fossils came later, thanks to digging around water wells and construction projects.
In 1863, part of a skeleton was described by Edward Hitchcock Jr., who recognized its importance in a study of dinosaur footprints.
**Size and Shape**
Anchisaurus was relatively small, about 2 meters long, weighing around 27 kilograms (60 pounds). Some larger related species could reach lengths of 4 meters (13 feet).
Anchisaurus had long necks and tails, with a body that helped it balance while walking on both two legs and four legs. Its foot structure was made for both standing and grasping plants.
**Diet**
Anchisaurus was an herbivore, mainly eating plants. It likely swallowed stones called gastroliths that helped grind the plant material in its stomach, similar to how some birds do today. While it primarily ate plants, it may have occasionally eaten meat too.
**Special Features**
This dinosaur had spoon-shaped teeth, which were good for ripping soft vegetation. It had flexible front limbs that let it move between walking on all fours and standing on its back legs to reach taller plants.
**Where You Can Find Fossils**
Fossils of Anchisaurus can be found in places like the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University. Some other dinosaur bones found in similar areas might belong to a different species. Research continues to discover more about these fascinating creatures.
**Conclusion**
Anchisaurus helps scientists understand the early evolution of sauropod dinosaurs. It shows the transition from smaller, bipedal dinosaurs to the massive quadrupedal giants that came later in the dinosaur age.