Supersaurus

Supersaurus was a gigantic diplodocine sauropod that lived in western North America during the Late Jurassic, roughly 150 million years ago. First excavated from the Dry Mesa Quarry in Colorado by James Jensen, it was long known from giant, isolated bones that hinted at staggering body proportions. Recent reassessments of more complete specimens suggest that Supersaurus may have reached 35 metres in total length, rivalled in body length by very few creatures in Earth history. Despite its colossal length, its Diplodocus-like bauplan was relatively slender, featuring an extremely elongated neck and a tapering tail like a bullwhip. It probably spent its days browsing soft foliage across open Jurassic parklands.

Recent skeletal reconstructions indicate it may have exceeded 35 metres in length, making it possibly the longest known dinosaur.

Where and when

Supersaurus lived in the Late Jurassic, from 154 to 149 million years ago (Kimmeridgian-Tithonian age). Its remains come from United States, in the Morrison Formation.

The numbers

Length 34 m (estimates run from 32 to 35 m). Mass about 38 t. Hip height about 5 m. That is 19.7 human-lengths, or 2.99 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from partial skeleton; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, hip height.

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