Ampelosaurus
Ampelosaurus atacis
Pronounced: am - Pell - o - Sore - us
Diet: Herbivore (Plant-Eater)
Name Means: "Vineyard Lizard"
Length: 50 feet (15 m)
Height: 16 feet (5 m)
Weight: 10 tons (9,500 kilos)
Time: Late Cretaceous - 70 million years ago
Fossil remains for this Dinosaur have been found in Europe
Ampelosaurus is the best-known long-necked (sauropod) European dinosaur.
Found in France in 1989, this giant plant eater is from the same family as
Argentinosaurus It was probably related to dinosaurs that traveled
from South America when that continent was still connected to Africa. Like the
huge African sauropods, such as
Paralititan it shares many characteristics with its South American
ancestors.
A number Ampelosaurus skeletons have been found. This genus differs
significantly enough from other European titanosaurs to show that these
sauropods had a chance to evolve and diversify after they made the journey from
South America through Africa to Europe. Like other titanosaurs, Ampelosaurus
also had dermal scutes. |
