Brontosaurus

Filed under Jurassic dinosaurs · Types of Dinosaurs editorial team

Order: Saurischia · Suborder: Sauropoda · Infraorder: Diplodocoidea · Family: Diplodocidae

Brontosaurus, whose name means "thunder lizard," was a massive herbivorous sauropod that roamed North America during the Late Jurassic period. This enormous diplodocid measured approximately 72 feet in length and was among the largest animals ever to walk the Earth. Like other sauropods, Brontosaurus possessed a characteristically long neck and tail, a bulky body supported by sturdy pillar-like legs that bore the weight of its immense frame.

For much of the twentieth century, paleontologists classified Brontosaurus as synonymous with Apatosaurus, treating the two as a single genus. However, a detailed scientific study published in 2015 re-examined the skeletal differences between the two animals and concluded that Brontosaurus warranted recognition as a distinct genus in its own right. This reclassification restored a name that had long held a prominent place in popular culture and public imagination.

As a plant-eater, Brontosaurus inhabited the floodplains of the Morrison Formation, browsing on available vegetation across its ancient landscape. It shared this environment with formidable predators, including the large theropod Allosaurus. Though Brontosaurus remains one of the most iconic dinosaurs in the public consciousness, many details about its biology—including its posture and exact height—remain subjects of ongoing paleontological research.

More Jurassic-period dinosaurs →

Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.

Related dinosaurs

Other dinosaurs from the Diplodocidae family.