Sauroposeidon (/ˌsɔːroʊpoʊˈsaɪdən/SOR-o-po-SY-dən; meaning "lizard earthquake god", after the Greek god Poseidon[3][4]) is a genus of sauropod dinosaur known from several incomplete specimens including a bone bed and fossilized trackways that have been found in the U.S. states of Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Texas.
The fossils were found in rocks dating from near the end of the Early Cretaceous (Aptian–early Albian), from about 113 to 110 million years ago, a time when sauropod diversity in North America had greatly diminished. It was the last known North American sauropod prior to an absence of the group on the continent of roughly 40 million years that ended with the appearance of Alamosaurus during the Maastrichtian.
While the holotype remains were initially discovered in 1994, due to their unexpected age and unusual size they were initially misclassified as pieces of petrified wood. A more detailed analysis in 1999 revealed their true nature which resulted in a minor media frenzy, and formal publication of the find the following year.[5]
Paleoecological analysis indicates that Sauroposeidon lived on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, in a river delta. Extrapolations based on the more completely known Brachiosaurus indicate that the head of Sauroposeidon could reach 16.5–18 m (54–59 ft) in height with its neck extended, which would make it one of the tallest known dinosaurs. With an estimated length of 27–34 m (89–112 ft) and a mass of 40–60 t (44–66 short tons), it also ranks among the longest and heaviest. However, this animal may not be as closely related to Brachiosaurus as previously thought, so these estimates may be inaccurate.
While initially described as a brachiosaurid closely related to Brachiosaurus and Giraffatitan, the discovery of additional remains in the Cloverly Formation of Wyoming suggested that it was in fact more closely related to the titanosaurs, in the group Somphospondyli. Analysis of these remains and comparison with others from Texas supported this conclusion, and demonstrated that the more completely known sauropods from the Twin Mountains Formation (including a partial skull and fossil trackways) previously named Paluxysaurus jonesi also belonged to Sauroposeidon.[6] It is the state dinosaur of Texas.[7]
^Holtz, T. R. (2011). "Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages, Winter 2011 Appendix" (PDF). Retrieved September 21, 2022.
^Brochu, C.A.; Long, J.; McHenry, C.; Scanlon, J.D.; Willis, P. (2002). Brett-Surman, M.K. (ed.). A Guide to Dinosaurs. San Francisco, CA: Fog City Press. pp. 112–205. ISBN 1-877019-12-7.
^Wedel, Mathew J.; Cifelli, Richard L. (Summer 2005). "Sauroposeidon: Oklahoma's Native Giant" (PDF). Oklahoma Geology Notes. 65 (2): 40–57. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007.
^According to Wedel et al. (2005), the etymology of the name is based on Poseidon's association with earthquakes, not the sea.
^Wedel, Mathew J.; Cifelli, R. L.; Sanders, R.. K. (2000). "Osteology, paleobiology, and relationships of the sauropod dinosaur Sauroposeidon" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 45: 343–388. S2CID 59141243. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 26, 2020.
^D'Emic, M.D.; Foreman, B.Z. (2012). "The beginning of the sauropod dinosaur hiatus in North America: insights from the Lower Cretaceous Cloverly Formation of Wyoming". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 32 (4): 883–902. Bibcode:2012JVPal..32..883D. doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.671204. S2CID 128486488.
^"Texas State Symbols". Texas State Legislature. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
Sauroposeidon (/ˌsɔːroʊpoʊˈsaɪdən/ SOR-o-po-SY-dən; meaning "lizard earthquake god", after the Greek god Poseidon) is a genus of sauropod dinosaur known...
(121 ft) long Patagotitan; and the tallest, the 18-meter (59 ft) tall Sauroposeidon, which could have reached a sixth-floor window. There were a few dinosaurs...
have been petrified wood, akin to the way the original discoverers of Sauroposeidon initially believed their find to be fossilized tree trunks. A 2022 review...
Polonica 46: 377-391. Wedel, M.J., Cifelli, R.L., and Sanders, R. K. 2000. Sauroposeidon Proteles, A new sauropod from the Early Cretaceous of Oklahoma. Journal...
JSTOR 41712373. Wedel, Mathew J.; Cifelli, R.L.; Sanders, R.K. (March 2000). "Sauroposeidon proteles, a new sauropod from the Early Cretaceous of Oklahoma" (PDF)...
has authored papers naming Aquilops (2014), Brontomerus (2011), and Sauroposeidon (2000). He has published research exploring how some dinosaurs achieved...
tonnes; Supersaurus which might have reached 34 m (112 ft) in length and Sauroposeidon which might have been 18 m (59 ft) tall. Some abnormal specimens such...
Elasmosaurus and Mauisaurus) and sauropod dinosaurs (such as Mamenchisaurus, Sauroposeidon, and Supersaurus). Largest organism Largest prehistoric organisms Giant...
coelurosaur Microvenator. Sauropods included Astrodon, Brontomerus, and Sauroposeidon. Ornithischians were more diverse than they were in the Jurassic Period...
of north-central Wyoming, and was found near the shoulder blade of a Sauroposeidon. An assortment of other fragmentary theropod remains from the formation...
quote-mined; the dispute was resolved by reediting the offending scene. Sauroposeidon (model reused for Alamosaurus, Last Day of the Dinosaurs only) Ankylosaurus...
referable to Sauroposeidon have been found in strata with a maximal age calculated to be 104.4 Ma. The species epithet of Sauroposeidon proteles means...
Air Force Bread Pan de campo Cooking implement Dutch oven Dinosaur Sauroposeidon proteles 2009 (replaced Pleurocoelus which was state dinosaur 1997–2009)...
surpassed Giraffatitan in terms of sheer mass. Also, the sauropod dinosaur Sauroposeidon is estimated to be taller and possibly heavier than Giraffatitan. Most...
Disclaimer Kelly Sheridan as Olivia Oviraptor Valin Shinyei as Sonny Sauroposeidon Rebecca Shoichet as Tricia Troodon (second voice), Kiera Chirostenotes...
Diplodocus. It also includes giants such as Argentinosaurus, Patagotitan and Sauroposeidon, and its members remain the largest land animals ever to have lived...
other dinosaurs, such as the sauropods Astrodon (Pleurocoelus) and Sauroposeidon proteles, and the carnosaur Acrocanthosaurus atokensis, which was likely...
in body mass. The tallest sauropods were probably Xinjiangtitan and Sauroposeidon with total height of 17 m (56 ft) and 16.5–18 m (54–59 ft), respectively...
otherwise in Alamosaurus, Dreadnoughtus, Drusilasaura, Elaltitan, and Sauroposeidon. Furthermore, in addition to a ridge that ran along the midline of the...
formation include the large theropod Acrocanthosaurus, the sauropod Sauroposeidon, as well as the ornithopods Tenontosaurus and Convolosaurus. It is the...
in length and 62 t (137,000 lb) in weight. The tallest sauropod was Sauroposeidon proteles with estimated height at 16.5–18 m (54–59 ft). Asiatosaurus...
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