Prosauropod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ProsauropodsTemporal range: Upper Triassic – Lower Jurassic
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Prosauropoda
von Huene, 1920
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Riojasauridae |
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Prosauropods were a group of early plant-eating dinosaurs. They lived during the later Triassic and early Jurassic periods.
These dinosaurs were the biggest plant-eaters in their habitats. They could grow to be 6 to 10 meters long, which is like two school buses end-to-end! All prosauropods had a long neck and a small head. Their front legs were shorter than their back legs. They also had a very large claw on their thumb, which they probably used for defense. Scientists first thought they were the direct ancestors of the giant, long-necked sauropods (like Brontosaurus). But now, many think they were more like cousins, evolving alongside sauropods.
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Meet the Prosauropods
Prosauropods were a special group of dinosaurs. They were some of the first large plant-eaters to roam the Earth. They lived millions of years ago, long before the T-Rex!
What Made Them Special?
Prosauropods had some unique features:
- Long Necks and Small Heads: Imagine a long neck like a giraffe, but with a much smaller head. This helped them reach leaves high up in trees.
- Big Thumb Claw: One of their most noticeable features was a huge claw on their thumb. Scientists think this claw might have been used for digging up roots, stripping leaves from branches, or even protecting themselves from predators.
- Walking Style: While they could walk on all four legs, their front legs were shorter. This suggests they might have often stood on their back legs to reach food or to look around.
Their Dinosaur Family Tree
Scientists group prosauropods into different families. This helps us understand how they are related to each other. Some of the main families include:
- Riojasauridae: This family includes dinosaurs like Riojasaurus.
- Plateosauridae: This group includes the well-known Plateosaurus.
- Massospondylidae: Dinosaurs like Massospondylus belong to this family.
These families show how diverse prosauropods were. They all shared common features but also had their own unique traits.
Images for kids
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Skull of Nigersaurus taqueti and head posture in sauropodomorphs
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Restoration of Panphagia, one of the most basal sauropodomorphs known.
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Plateosaurus is a well-known prosauropod.
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Skull comparison of several sauropodomorphs
See also
In Spanish: Plateosáuridos para niños
