Diplodocus#Valid species

Live reconstruction of Seismosaurus hallorum

• New Mexico ( USA)

• Seismosaurus hallorum

Seismosaurus ( " earthquake lizard" ) was a dinosaur from the group of sauropods. He lived in the Jurassic and was possibly one of the longest dinosaur ever. Its fossils were discovered in 1979 in New Mexico.

Description

From Seismosaurus a partial skeleton preserved is known, which was excavated in the years 1985 to 1988. Among other things, some vertebrae, parts of the pelvis, ribs, and also Gastrolithen Found ( whose existence was doubted, however, that later).

Exact lengths and weights can not be made due to the sparse finds. The describer David Gillette calculated an overall length of 39 meters of the animal, other estimates could amount to over 50 meters.

More modern calculations assume 32 meters in length. The weight estimates vary greatly: While sometimes a weight of 80, even over 100 tons is believed other estimates only 20 to 30 tons amount.

System

The to the order Saurischia (lizard dinosaur Beck ) belonging Seismosaurus is classified in the subordination of Sauropodomorpha. Within this group, it is counted as any dinosaur Diplodocidae family in the partial order of the sauropods. As he has with another representative of the Diplodocidae, Diplodocus, so many similarities, it's possible that this is the same genus, with complete name so Diplodocus halli.