Look up · dinosaur 792 of 1,425
early long-neck
Massospondylus
Say it like this: “MASS-oh-SPON-di-lus”
Massospondylus carinatus
Massospondylus ate plants and walked on two legs. It lived in the Early Jurassic. Bones have been found in South Africa.
- When
- Early Jurassic (Hettangian · Sinemurian) · roughly 201.4 to 192.9 million years ago
- Named in
- 1854 · Owen, R.
- Hip height
- 1.2 m · 4 ft
- Length
- 4–6 m · 13–20 ft
- Weight
- 137–195 kg · 302–430 lb
- Found in
- South Africa · Elliot
- Food and walking
- Herbivore · Two legs
- Kind
- early long-neck · Sauropodomorph
- Family branch
- Massospondylidae
The story in short
Massospondylus was formally named in 1854 by R. Owen.
Fossils referred to Massospondylus date to the Early Jurassic (Hettangian · Sinemurian), roughly 201.4 to 192.9 million years ago. Finds come from South Africa, including the Elliot Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on two legs.
Published estimates put Massospondylus at a length near 4–6 m, hips about 1.2 m high, and a body mass around 137–195 kg.
On the family tree it sits in Massospondylidae, among the early long-necked dinosaurs.
This entry is the whole genus. The type species is Massospondylus carinatus. Other named species include Massospondylus kaalae.
Other species with this name
- Massospondylus carinatus
- Massospondylus kaalae
Close relatives
Adeopapposaurus
Adeopapposaurus mognai
Early Jurassic (Hettangian–Toarcian) · roughly 201.4 to 174.7 million years ago
Coloradisaurus
Coloradisaurus brevis
Late Triassic (Norian) · roughly 227.3 to 205.7 million years ago
Fulengia
Fulengia youngi
Early Jurassic (Sinemurian) · roughly 199.5 to 192.9 million years ago