Diplodocus

Diplodocus was one of the longest animals to ever walk the Earth. It could be over 85 feet long from head to tail. Its name means "double beam" because of special bones in its tail. It lived about 154 million years ago.

Super Long

Most of Diplodocus's length came from its neck and tail. Its neck was about 21 feet long. Its tail was even longer, up to 45 feet! Diplodocus used its long tail like a whip for defense. Its body was actually not that big compared to other sauropods.

How It Ate

Diplodocus had small, peg-like teeth only at the front of its mouth. It stripped leaves off branches like a rake. It could not chew, so it swallowed food whole. Diplodocus may have swept its long neck from side to side to reach lots of plants without moving its body.

Fun Facts

• Diplodocus could crack its tail faster than the speed of sound, creating a sonic boom.
• A full-sized Diplodocus skeleton would stretch across almost an entire basketball court.
• Baby Diplodocus may have grown 13 feet in their first year alone.

Did You Know?

Andrew Carnegie, a famous businessman, loved Diplodocus so much that he sent plaster copies of the skeleton to museums all over the world. Many people saw Diplodocus before any other dinosaur!