Omeisaurus

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Omeisaurus ("Omei lizard") was a sauropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Period of what is now China. Its name comes from Mount Emei, where it was discovered. The species O. fuxiensis is also known as Zigongosaurus, or Z. fuxiensis.

Like other sauropods, the Omeisaurus is herbivorous and large. It measured 10 to 15 meters (30 to 45 feet long and 4 meters (12 feet) high and weighed 4 tons. It had the typical bulky body and long neck of other dinosaurs in its suborder. Unlike many sauropods, however, its nostrils were located close to the end of its nose. The back of the Omeisaurus was higher at its hips than at its shoulders.

[edit] Classification

It was once classified as a member of the Cetiosauridae family, due to a club tail fossil discovered in the same bone bed as the Omeisaurus fossils. The club tail is now believed to belong to a large Shunosaurus.

[edit] Popular Culture

Mounted skeletons of Omeisaurus are on display at the Zigong Dinosaur Museum in Zigong, Sichuan Province and at Beipei Museum, near Chongqing, both in China.

[edit] References

• Dong Zhiming (1988). Dinosaurs from China. China Ocean Press, Beijing & British Museum (Natural History). ISBN 0-565-01073-5.

[edit] External links

• http://www.bowdoin.edu/~dbensen/Dinosaurs/Omeisaurusjunghsiensis.html
• http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/science/dinosaurs/dino_card/30.html
• http://www.dinoruss.com/de_4/5a6c3d5.htm