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222 / Mesozoic
Massospondylus
Massospondylus carinatus
A long neck, small head and grasping hands mark a stage between bipedal ancestors and giant quadrupedal sauropods.
- Time range
- About 200–183 million years ago
- Final stage
- Early Jurassic
- Geographic range
- River-valley woodland · Southern Africa
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Massospondylus?
Massospondylus (Massospondylus carinatus) was an extinct organism known from About 200–183 million years ago, with a range in River-valley woodland · Southern Africa.
Life and ecology
Massospondylus mainly ate plants and could move bipedally or quadrupedally. Its thumb claws were not used as walking supports.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Massospondylus disappear?
Early Jurassic vegetation and herbivore communities changed as basal sauropodomorphs gave way to true sauropods.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Massospondylus?
Many skeletons, embryos, eggs, growth series and trackways document posture and development.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS