Sauroposeidon

Say it like this: “SOR-o-po-SY-duhn”

Sauroposeidon proteles

Sauroposeidon ate plants and walked on four legs. It lived in the Early Cretaceous. Bones have been found in the United States.

Quiz me on Sauroposeidon

When: Early Cretaceous (Aptian · Albian) · roughly 121.4 to 100.5 million years ago
Named in: 2000 · Wedel, M. J.; Cifelli, R. L.; Sanders, R. K.
Hip height: 6–7 m · 20–23 ft
Length: 27–34 m · 89–112 ft
Weight: 40–60 tonnes
Found in: the United States · Antlers
Food and walking: Herbivore · Four legs
Kind: long-neck giant · Sauropod
Family branch: Somphospondyli

The story in short

In 2000, M. J. Wedel and colleagues published the name Sauroposeidon. The name means “lizard earthquake god.”

It lived in the Early Cretaceous (Aptian · Albian), roughly 121.4 to 100.5 million years ago. Finds come from the United States, including the Antlers Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on four legs.

Published estimates put Sauroposeidon at a length near 27–34 m, hips about 6–7 m high, and a body mass around 40–60 tonnes.

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

Close relatives

Abdarainurus

Abdarainurus barsboldi

Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago

Angolatitan

Angolatitan adamastor

Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) · roughly 89.8 to 85.7 million years ago

Arkharavia

Arkharavia heterocoelica

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago