**Supersaurus: The Super Lizard Dinosaur**
Supersaurus, which means “super lizard,” is a giant dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Jurassic period, around 153 to 145 million years ago.
This dinosaur belongs to a group called sauropods, which are known for their long necks and large bodies. The first Supersaurus was discovered in 1972 in Colorado by a person named Vivian Jones.
Fossils of Supersaurus indicate that it was one of the longest dinosaurs. Some specimens have been estimated to be between 33 and 40 meters long. The biggest ones might have even exceeded 40 meters, which is about as long as a soccer field. Its weight is estimated to be around 35 to 44 metric tons, which is like having 10 elephants combined!
**Discovery of Supersaurus**
The first fossils of Supersaurus were found in a place called the Dry Mesa Quarry. These included bones like the shoulder and tail vertebrae. The paleontologist James A. Jensen helped to name and describe Supersaurus.
Another significant find occurred in 1986 when a more complete skeleton was discovered in Wyoming. This skeleton was nicknamed “Jimbo” and is about 30% complete. This discovery allowed scientists to learn much more about how Supersaurus looked.
**Name Changes and Related Dinosaurs**
There was some confusion about Supersaurus and other giant sauropods. At one point, a dinosaur named Ultrasauros was thought to be different from Supersaurus but was later found to actually belong to the same group.
Yet another dinosaur called Dystylosaurus was also recognized as part of Supersaurus. So in the end, Supersaurus has many names tied to it because of how discoveries were re-evaluated.
**What Did Supersaurus Look Like?**
Supersaurus had a long neck and an even longer tail, similar to other diplodocids. Studies have suggested that Supersaurus might be related to another well-known dinosaur called Apatosaurus.
One notable finding about Supersaurus is that it had an enormous vertebra, which may have been one of the longest neck bones of any dinosaur. This suggests it had a neck that could reach the trees high up for food.
**Age and Size**
Recent studies tried to determine how long Supersaurus lived. One specimen was thought to be very old, perhaps over 200 years by the time it died. But this number is hard to confirm.
Overall, Supersaurus was likely around 33 to 40 meters long, making it one of the longest dinosaurs we know about.
**Conclusion**
Supersaurus is a fascinating dinosaur known for its impressive size and long neck. As more fossils are discovered and studied, we continue to learn more about these amazing creatures that once roamed the Earth millions of years ago.