Nemegtosaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nemegtosaurus |
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| Cast of the skull of Nemegtosaurus, on a mounted Opisthocoelicaudia skeleton, Museum of Evolution of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | †Sauropodomorpha |
| Clade: | †Sauropoda |
| Clade: | †Titanosauria |
| Clade: | †Lithostrotia |
| Family: | †Nemegtosauridae |
| Genus: | †Nemegtosaurus Nowinski, 1971 |
| Species | |
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N. mongoliensis Nowinski, 1971 (type) |
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Nemegtosaurus (say "neh-MEG-toh-SAWR-us") was a huge, long-necked dinosaur that lived about 70 million years ago. It was a type of titanosaur, which are known for being some of the largest animals to ever walk on Earth. Scientists found its fossils in Mongolia, specifically in a place called the Nemegt Basin. The name Nemegtosaurus means "Nemegt lizard," named after this discovery spot.
One interesting fact about Nemegtosaurus is that its skull is very well-preserved. This is rare for sauropods because their skulls were often delicate and didn't survive as fossils. There's also a possibility that Nemegtosaurus might be the same dinosaur as another one called Opisthocoelicaudia.
Contents
What Kind of Dinosaur Was Nemegtosaurus?
Nemegtosaurus belonged to a group of dinosaurs called sauropods. Sauropods were plant-eating dinosaurs famous for their very long necks, long tails, and huge bodies. They walked on four thick, pillar-like legs.
A Titanosaur Giant
Within the sauropod group, Nemegtosaurus was a titanosaur. Titanosaurs were a diverse group of sauropods that lived during the Cretaceous Period. Many of them were incredibly large, making them some of the biggest land animals ever.
Where Did Nemegtosaurus Live?
Nemegtosaurus lived in what is now the Gobi Desert region of Mongolia. This area was very different 70 million years ago. It was a lush environment with rivers, lakes, and forests.
The Nemegt Formation
The fossils of Nemegtosaurus were found in a rock layer called the Nemegt Formation. This formation is famous for its many dinosaur fossils. It gives us a peek into the ancient ecosystem of Late Cretaceous Asia. Other dinosaurs found there include the fierce Tarbosaurus and the duck-billed Saurolophus.
What Did Nemegtosaurus Eat?
Like all sauropods, Nemegtosaurus was a herbivore, meaning it ate plants. Its long neck would have allowed it to reach high into trees to munch on leaves. It probably also ate ferns and other low-growing vegetation.
How it Ate
Sauropods like Nemegtosaurus had peg-like teeth that were good for stripping leaves off branches. They didn't chew their food much. Instead, they swallowed it whole or in large chunks. They likely had a large gut to help them digest tough plant material.
How Big Was Nemegtosaurus?
While we don't have a complete skeleton of Nemegtosaurus, scientists can estimate its size based on its skull and other sauropod fossils. It was likely a very large dinosaur, possibly reaching lengths of around 12 to 15 meters (40 to 50 feet). Its weight would have been many tons.
Discovery and Research
The first fossils of Nemegtosaurus were discovered in 1970 during a Polish-Mongolian expedition. The dinosaur was officially named and described in 1971 by a scientist named Nowinski.
The Mystery of Opisthocoelicaudia
For a long time, scientists have wondered if Nemegtosaurus and Opisthocoelicaudia are actually the same animal. Opisthocoelicaudia is known from a nearly complete skeleton, but it's missing its skull. Since Nemegtosaurus is known mainly from its skull, some scientists think these two might be parts of the same dinosaur. If they are, the name Nemegtosaurus would likely be used because it was named first.
Images for kids
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Vertebrae that may belong to Nemegtosaurus
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Speculative full body restoration
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Restoration of the head
See also
In Spanish: Nemegtosaurus para niños
