Ask aDino Field Guide ← Jurassic

Artist's reconstruction · realistic art coming in a later version

Diplodocus

dih-PLOD-uh-kus

“Double Beam”

Jurassic
When
Late Jurassic
Where
North America
Size
Up to 90 ft long
Diet
Plants only

6 Facts

1–6
  1. Diplodocus was one of the longest dinosaurs ever — up to 90 feet, most of it neck and tail.
  2. Its name means “Double Beam,” from special bones on the underside of its tail.
  3. Its tail worked like a giant whip and may have cracked like one to scare off attackers.
  4. It had simple, peg-shaped teeth only at the front of its mouth, perfect for raking leaves off branches.
  5. Even though it was incredibly long, it was fairly lightweight for its size, around 10 to 16 tons.
  6. It probably held its long neck mostly level with the ground, sweeping side to side to feed.