**Smitanosaurus: A Jurassic Giant**
Smitanosaurus is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, roughly 155 to 145 million years ago. These dinosaurs were part of a group known as sauropods, which were known for their long necks and massive bodies.
The name Smitanosaurus means “smith lizard.” It is named after J. August Smith, who helped find and study its fossils. The type species of this dinosaur is called Smitanosaurus agilis.
**Discovery and History**
Smitanosaurus was first identified in the late 1800s. A paleontologist named Othniel Charles Marsh discovered some remains, including part of a skull and some neck bones, in Colorado. Marsh originally named these remains Morosaurus agilis.
However, over the years, scientists determined that Morosaurus should not be a separate group, leading to some confusion about the classification of these bones. For a long time, Smitanosaurus agilis did not have a proper name.
In 2020, paleontologists Whitlock and Wilson re-evaluated the remains and placed them in a new group called Dicraeosauridae. This new classification recognized Smitanosaurus as distinct and deserving of its own name.
**What Did Smitanosaurus Look Like?**
While we do not have a complete skeleton of Smitanosaurus, it was likely similar to other members of its family. It would have been a large dinosaur, with a long neck, a long tail, and a big body.
Dicraeosaurids, the family Smitanosaurus belongs to, usually had shorter necks than other sauropods like Brachiosaurus but still had the long, slender shape that made sauropods so unique.
**Where Did They Live?**
Smitanosaurus lived in what is now Colorado. This area was part of the Morrison Formation, a famous geological formation known for many dinosaur findings. During the Late Jurassic period, this region was likely full of lush vegetation, making it a great environment for large herbivorous dinosaurs.
**Conclusion**
Smitanosaurus is an exciting part of dinosaur history. Its reclassification helps scientists understand the diversity of dinosaur life during the Jurassic period. We continue to learn more about these fascinating creatures as new discoveries are made.