Maraapunisaurus

Maraapunisaurus fragillimus

Maraapunisaurus ate plants and walked on four legs. It lived in the Late Jurassic. Bones have been found in the United States.

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When: Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian · Tithonian) · roughly 154.8 to 143.1 million years ago
Named in: 2018 · Carpenter, K.
Hip height: 6.5 m · 21 ft
Length: 35–58 m · 115–190 ft
Weight: 63.5–152.4 tonnes
Found in: the United States · Morrison
Food and walking: Herbivore · Four legs
Kind: long-neck giant · Sauropod
Family branch: Rebbachisauridae

The story in short

The genus Maraapunisaurus dates to 2018, the year K. Carpenter described it. The name means “very large lizard.”

It lived in the Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian · Tithonian), roughly 154.8 to 143.1 million years ago. Finds come from the United States, including the Morrison Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on four legs.

Published estimates put Maraapunisaurus at a length near 35–58 m, hips about 6.5 m high, and a body mass around 63.5–152.4 tonnes.

On the family tree it sits in Rebbachisauridae, among the sauropod dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Agustinia

Agustinia ligabuei

Early Cretaceous (Albian) · roughly 113.2 to 100.5 million years ago

Amazonsaurus

Amazonsaurus maranhensis

Early Cretaceous (Aptian · Albian) · roughly 121.4 to 100.5 million years ago

Astigmasaura

Astigmasaura genuflexa

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian · Turonian) · roughly 100.5 to 89.8 million years ago