Supersaurus
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Supersaurus Temporal range: Late Jurassic, 153 Ma |
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| The Holotype of Supersaurus, scapulocoracoid BYU 9025 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | †Sauropodomorpha |
| Clade: | †Neosauropoda |
| Family: | †Diplodocidae |
| Subfamily: | †Diplodocinae |
| Genus: |
†Supersaurus Jensen, 1985 |
| Species: | †S. vivianae |
| Binomial name | |
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Supersaurus vivianae Jensen, 1985 |
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| Synonyms | |
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Supersaurus (meaning "super lizard") is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaur first discovered by Vivian Jones of Delta, Colorado, in late Jurassic period rocks of the middle Morrison Formation of Colorado in 1972, and later in Portugal under the name S. lourinhanensis. The fossil remains came from the Brushy Basin Member of the formation, dating to about 153 million years ago.
Supersaurus is among the largest dinosaurs known from good remains, possibly reaching 33 to 34 meters (108 to 112 ft) in length, and a weight of 35 to 40 tons.
The first described specimens of Supersaurus were individual bones that suggested a large diplodocid. A large cervical vertebra from the same quarry was later assigned to Supersaurus, which indicated a very elongated neck. This vertebra measures 1380mm and is the longest cervical known.
The assignment of the more complete specimen, WDC DMJ-021, to Supersaurus suggests that in most respects it was very similar in anatomy to Apatosaurus but less robustly built with especially elongated cervical vertebrae, resulting in one of the longest known sauropod necks.
The original fossil remains of Supersaurus were discovered in the Dry Mesa Quarry in 1972. This find yielded only a few bones: mainly the shoulder girdle, an ischium and tail vertebrae. Paleontologist James A. Jensen described Supersaurus; he designated a scapulocoracoid BYU 9025 (originally labeled as BYU 5500) as the type specimen. This shoulder girdle stood some 2.4 meters (8 ft) tall, if placed on end. The specimen was given the name "Supersaurus" informally as early as 1973, but wasn't officially described and named until more than a decade later, in 1985.
Sauropod researcher Jack McIntosh at one time thought that the BYU Supersaurus material might represent a large species of Barosaurus but later felt that there was evidence for Supersaurus being a valid genus.
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