Bothriospondylus facts for kids
Bothriospondylus (say "BOTH-ree-oh-SPON-dih-lus") means 'excavated vertebrae'. It is a type of long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur called a sauropod. Scientists know about Bothriospondylus from only a few backbones.
This dinosaur belongs to a group named Bothriospondylidae. This group was named by a scientist called Richard Lydekker in 1885. The main fossil that helps us understand Bothriospondylus is known as BMNH R44529-5.
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What was Bothriospondylus?
Bothriospondylus was a very large dinosaur. It was a sauropod, which means it had a long neck, a big body, and walked on four strong legs. These dinosaurs were plant-eaters. They would have spent their days munching on leaves from tall trees.
When and where did it live?
Bothriospondylus lived during the Jurassic period. This was about 150 million years ago. Its fossils have been found in England. This tells us that large sauropods like Bothriospondylus roamed across ancient Europe.
Who discovered it?
The first fossils of Bothriospondylus were described in 1875. A famous scientist named Richard Owen was the one who first studied these bones. Later, in 1885, Richard Lydekker named the family Bothriospondylidae. This shows how different scientists contribute to our knowledge of dinosaurs over time.
Dinosaurs like Bothriospondylus
Images for kids
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Holotype of B. magnus (Lectotype of Ornithopsis)
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Humerus of "B. madagascariensis" (Vouivria)
