Apatosaurus is a large herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period. Its name means “deceptive lizard” in Greek, referring to the fact that its vertebrae were initially thought to belong to a different species. Apatosaurus was a sauropod, a group of dinosaurs known for their long necks and tails and small heads.
Apatosaurus was one of the largest dinosaurs, measuring up to 75 feet in length and weighing up to 40 tons. Its tail was particularly long and whip-like, and may have been used for self-defense. Apatosaurus is closely related to the better-known Brontosaurus, but recent research suggests that the two may actually be the same species. Apatosaurus lived in herds and roamed across North America and possibly parts of Europe.