Camptosaurus was an ornithopod dinosaur that roamed North America during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 157 to 145 million years ago.
Camptosaurus Facts
- Type of Dinosaur: Ornithopod
- Diet: herbivore.
- Continent(s) Found: North America, (possibly) Europe.
- Length: Approximately 5 to 7 meters (16 to 23 feet)
- Height: Around 2 meters (6.5 feet) at the hips
- Weight: Estimated to be between 500 to 1,000 kilograms (1,100 to 2,200 pounds)
- Period: Camptosaurus lived during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 157 to 145 million years ago.
What Did Camptosaurus Look Like?
Camptosaurus was a medium-sized ornithopod dinosaur, characterized by its bipedal (two-legged) and possibly occasional quadrupedal (four-legged) stance. It measured approximately 5 to 7 meters / 16 to 23 feet in length, or around one and a half times the length of a mid-sized family car.
Standing at around 2 meters / 6.5 feet tall at the hips, Camptosaurus had a robust build. Its estimated weight ranged between 500 to 1,000 kilograms / 1,100 to 2,200 pounds.
Camptosaurus had a long, flexible tail and strong hind limbs, which likely supported both walking and running. Its forelimbs were shorter but still capable of supporting its weight when it moved on all fours.
The head was relatively small with a beak-like structure, well-suited for its herbivorous diet, allowing it to clip and chew plant material effectively.
What Does The Name Camptosaurus Mean?
The name Camptosaurus means “flexible lizard.” The name is derived from the Greek words “kamptos,” meaning bent or flexible, and “sauros,” meaning lizard.
Paleontologist Professor Othniel Charles Marsh, who named Camptosaurus, believed that the dinosaur’s bone structure suggested flexibility.
What Type Of Dinosaur Was Camptosaurus?
Camptosaurus was an ornithopod dinosaur. Ornithopods are a group of herbivorous dinosaurs characterized by their bipedal and sometimes quadrupedal locomotion.
Ornithopods are part of the larger group of dinosaurs, the Ornithischia.
Other examples of ornithopod dinosaurs include Iguanodon, Edmontosaurus and Tenontosaurus.
Where Did Camptosaurus Live?
Camptosaurus lived in what is now North America and Europe.
The ornithopod’s remains were first discovered in Wyoming, USA, in the Morrison Formation. The discovery was made by William Harlow Reed in 1879, and shortly after the fossils were described by the famous paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh.
Since then, additional Camptosaurus fossils have been found in various locations in North America and Europe.
What Dinosaurs Lived At The Same Time As Camptosaurus?
Other dinosaurs that lived at the same time as Camptosaurus include:
Allosaurus: A large, carnivorous theropod known for being one of the top predators of its time.
Stegosaurus: An herbivorous dinosaur distinguished by its plated back and spiked tail, known as a thagomizer.
Apatosaurus: One of the large sauropods, characterized by its massive size and long neck.
Diplodocus: Another giant sauropod, recognized for its incredibly long neck and tail.
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