Fact Files

Diplodocus

Name	Diplodocus longus	Information
Diet	Herbivorous	Diplodicus was a herbivorous animal living in the late Jurassic period of North America. It was a sauropod of the Diplodocidae family, markedly more slender than sauropods of other families, and decidedly horizontal with shorter forelegs than hind and a long, whiplike tail. It had an unusually specialized claw on its forelimbs. On all but one digit on the forelimb it lacked claws. That claw was large compare to other sauropod claws, flattened from side to side, and was unattached to the bones of the hand. The function of the claw is unknown.
Height	25ft (to the back)
Length	115 ft
Weight	11-17.6 tons
Location	North America
Era	154-150 million years ago	Interesting Fact
		Diplodocus is one of the longest dinosaurs to have lived, with 80 caudal vertebrae in the tail--more than double the number of some earlier sauropods! The middle part of the tail had 'double beams' on the underside, double beams referring to an odd bone structure which may have provided structural support or prevented blood vessels from being crushed if the tail pressed against the ground. It is the namesake of the dinosaur.
Name Means	"Double Beam"
Pronunciation	DIP-lod-OH-cuss
Family	Diplodocidae