Amazonsaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amazonsaurus |
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Amazonsaurus
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maranhensis
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Amazonsaurus (say it: AM-ə-zən-SAWR-əs) means "Amazon lizard." This amazing dinosaur was a type of sauropod, known for their long necks and tails. Amazonsaurus lived a long, long time ago during the Early Cretaceous Period. This was about 125 to 100 million years ago! It lived in what is now South America, specifically in Brazil.
Amazonsaurus was a four-legged plant-eater, also called a herbivore. It had a very long neck to reach high leaves and a long, whip-like tail. Scientists believe Amazonsaurus was probably not more than 12 meters (about 40 feet) long. That's about the length of a large school bus! It weighed around 5,000 kilograms (about 5 tons), which is as heavy as a big elephant.
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About Amazonsaurus
Amazonsaurus belongs to a group of dinosaurs called rebbachisaurids. These were a special family of sauropods. Sauropods were giant, plant-eating dinosaurs. They walked on four strong legs. Many sauropods, like Amazonsaurus, had very long necks and tails.
What it Looked Like
Imagine a dinosaur as long as a bus! That was Amazonsaurus. It was a herbivore, meaning it ate only plants. Its long neck helped it reach leaves high up in trees. Its strong, pillar-like legs supported its heavy body. The long tail might have helped it balance. It could also have been used to defend itself from predators.
Where and When it Lived
Amazonsaurus lived during the Early Cretaceous Period. This was a time when many new types of dinosaurs were appearing. Its fossils were found in Brazil, in South America. This shows us that giant sauropods lived in many different parts of the world. The area where it lived was likely warm and lush. It would have had plenty of plants for this big dinosaur to eat.
Discovery of Amazonsaurus
The first fossils of Amazonsaurus were found in the Maranhão state of Brazil. They were discovered in a rock formation called the Itapecuru Formation. Scientists Carvalho et al. officially described this dinosaur in 2003. Finding these fossils helps us learn more about the dinosaurs that lived in South America millions of years ago.
See also
In Spanish: Amazonsaurus maranhensis para niños
