Types of Dinosaurs.
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Opisthocoelicaudia

Mounted Allosaurus skeleton, a large Jurassic predatory dinosaur
Photo: Jens Lallensack, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pronunciation
o-piss-tho-SEE-luh-caw-dee-uh
Name means
Behind Hollow Tail
Diet
Herbivore
Posture
Quadrupedal
Period
Late Cretaceous
Length
40 feet (12.2 meters)
Height
16 feet (4.9 meters)

Order: Saurischia · Suborder: Sauropodomorpha · Infraorder: Sauropoda · Family: Camarasauridae

Opisthocoelicaudia was found in the Gobi desert in a remarkable state of preservation. A mid-sized sauropod, it hadforelegs and hind legs of nearly equal length and a short tail.

Mounted Diplodocus skeleton, an extremely long Jurassic sauropod
Photo: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

More Cretaceous-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.

Frequently asked questions

What does Opisthocoelicaudia mean?

The name Opisthocoelicaudia means “Behind Hollow Tail”. It is pronounced o-piss-tho-SEE-luh-caw-dee-uh.

When did Opisthocoelicaudia live?

Opisthocoelicaudia lived during the Late Cretaceous.

Was Opisthocoelicaudia a carnivore or a herbivore?

Opisthocoelicaudia was a herbivore.

How big was Opisthocoelicaudia?

Opisthocoelicaudia was about 40 feet (12.2 meters) long, around 16 feet (4.9 meters) tall.

Related dinosaurs

Other dinosaurs from the Camarasauridae family.

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