Saurischia / Sauropodomorpha / Sauropoda / Macronaria / Family; Camarasouridae / First Discovered 1877 / Found; North America USA / Length; 18 m / Weight; 25-30 t / Food Plants / Young Eggs / Lived Late Jurassic 161-146 mya ______________________ オーストラリア恐竜大陸 http://dinoteam.org ______________________
Although the first fossilized bones of Camarasaurus were found as early as 1877, scientists had to wait until 1925 for the first complete skeleton to be discovered. Camarasaurus has been found in Late Jurassic rocks in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah and Montana, in the United States. Bones have also been found in southern England that may belong to it. Camarasaurus was very common in North America in the Late Jurassic. Most sauropods were herd-dwellers and Camarasaurus was probably no exception. Just as with today’s animals of the great African savannas, it was important for the different species to be able to recognize one another. Although Camarasaurus was relatively small compared to other sauropods, its box-like snout and robust, chisel-like teeth gave it a distinctive look. It had a lightly built skull and there were large holes for the nostrils in front of the eye sockets. It had a heavily built body and a comparatively short tail. It is thought that, like elephants, Camarasaurus had wedge-like heels of soft tissue on its feet to help support its weight.