Difference Between Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus

The key difference between Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus is that Apatosaurus’ front legs were slightly shorter than its hind legs while Brachiosaurus’ front legs were larger and taller than hind legs.

Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus are two dinosaur genera that lived in late Jurassic period on Earth. Both genera contain members of the sauropod family which had long necks. Both are large dinosaurs.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is an Apatosaurus 
3. What is a Brachiosaurus
4. Similarities Between Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus
5. Side by Side Comparison – Apatosaurus vs Brachiosaurus in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is an Apatosaurus?

Apatosaurus was a giant sauropod dinosaur that lived on Earth, 150 million years ago during the Jurassic period. Their fossils have been discovered from North America and Europe. The name Apatosaurus refers to ‘deceptive lizard’. It had a long neck and a whip-like tail. Its front legs were slightly shorter than hind legs.

Figure 01: Apatosaurus

This giant dinosaur was 21–22.8 m (69–75 ft) long, 30 – 35 feet tall and 38 tons in weight. Moreover, it had a 15 – 17 feet long neck. Apatosaurus is an herbivore similar to Brachiosaurus. It also had a small skull compared to other dinosaurs.

What is a Brachiosaurus?

Brachiosaurus is a giant, giraffe-like dinosaur which had a long neck. In fact, the name “Brachiosaurus” means ‘arm lizard’ due to its unusually long limbs.  They lived in North America, Africa, and Tanzania in mid to late Jurassic period, 155.7 million to 150.8 million years ago. Brachiosaurus had larger front legs and shorter hind legs which made it easier to hold its neck up. Hence, it is considered as one of the tallest dinosaurs that lived on Earth. They were 40 – 50 feet high and more than 50 tons in weight.

Figure 02: Brachiosaurus

They were herbivores dependent on cycads, ginkgos, and conifers. Moreover, these dinosaurs used to eat up to 400 kg of plant dry matter every day.  Unlike other dinosaurs, this giant dinosaur has a distinct large nare over its skull. It also had a short tail.

What are the Similarities Between Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus?

• Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus are sauropods.
• They are quadrupedal animals with a small skull and a long neck.
• Both are herbivores.
• They lived on Earth during the late Jurassic period.
• Both were largest land animals.
• They are warm-blooded animals.

What is the Difference Between Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus?

Apatosaurus is a giant dinosaur which had shorter front legs and taller hind legs and a large body. Brachiosaurus, on the other hand, is another genus of giant dinosaurs which had larger and taller front legs and shorter hind legs. Brachiosaurus were heavier than Apatosaurus. They also had thicker and taller front legs compared to its hind legs. In contrast, Apatosaurus had shorter front legs and taller hind legs.

Apatosaurus had a fairly slender and lean body as well as a whip-like tail. In contrast, Brachiosaurus had a massive barrel-like body and a short tail.

Summary – Apatosaurus vs Brachiosaurus

Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus include sauropod giant dinosaurs. Furthermore, had long necks, which helped them in their herbivore-eating pattern. Brachiosaurus were heavier than Apatosaurus. Overall, the difference between Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus lies in their body size and structure.

Reference:

1.“Apatosaurus.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 26 Oct. 2017, Available here.
2. “Brachiosaurus.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 May 2018, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Apatosaurus louisae by durbed flipped” By Durbed – (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Brachiosaurus DB” By Богданов [email protected] – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

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