Ultrasauros

Order: Saurischia · Suborder: Sauropodomorpha · Infraorder: Sauropoda · Family: Brachiosauridae (family not firmly confirmed)
Discovered in Colorado by dinosaur digger Jim Jensen of Brigham Young University, this extremely large dinosaur was formerly known as Ultrasaurus. The name was changed as it had previously been claimed for a South Korean specimen. Ultrasauroshad an unusually small head that towered on a giraffe-like neck, a short tail for its size, and pillar-like legs. In fact, Ultrasauros may have been a very large Brachiosaurus.

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.
Frequently asked questions
What does Ultrasauros mean?
The name Ultrasauros means “Ultra Lizard”. It is pronounced UL-truh-SAWR-us.
When did Ultrasauros live?
Ultrasauros lived during the Late Jurassic.
Was Ultrasauros a carnivore or a herbivore?
Ultrasauros was a herbivore.
How big was Ultrasauros?
Ultrasauros was about 100 feet (30.5 meters) long, around 53 feet (16 meters) tall, weighing up to 140,000 pounds (63,504 kg).
Related dinosaurs
Other dinosaurs from the Brachiosauridae family.
Compare the dinosaurs
See size, diet, period and family for hundreds of dinosaurs side by side.
Compare dinosaurs →