Mamenchisaurus
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? Mamenchisaurus Conservation status:
Fossil
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Species
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| M.
anyuensis M. constructus( holotype) M. fuxiensis M. hochuanensis M. sinocanadorum |
Mamenchisaurus (pronounced ma-MENCH-ih-SAW-rus) was first discovered in China by C. C. Young. It is a plant-eating four-legged dinosaur, known for its astonishingly long neck.
The first specimen discovered (the type specimen) was 22 meters (72 feet) long, and half of that was neck (11 meters, or 36 feet) — which made it the longest known neck any animal at the time. 19 vertebrae were discovered (another record), along with long rods that were found in the neck.
In 1987, a different species of Mamenchisaurus was discovered (M. hochuanensis) with a neck that might have reached up to 15 meters (49 feet) in length. In 1994, the Sauroposeidon was discovered in the United States, with a neck estimated to be up to 12 meters (39 feet) long; though since the Sauroposeidon is a brachiosaurid, with very long forelimbs, it is a much taller dinosaur.
Mamenchisaurus means "Mamenchi lizard", from the Chinese ma ("horse"), men ("gate") and chi ("stream"), and the Greek sauros ("lizard"). It was named for the Mamingxi Ferry in Jinshajiang, on the Yangtze River, Yibin, in the Sichuan Province of China, where it was found.
Most species lived 145 to 150 million years ago, in the Tithonian age of the late Jurassic period.
A herd of mamenchisaurs were featured in the roundup scene in Jurassic Park's sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
Species
- M. anyuensis He, Yang, Cai, Li & Liu, 1996
- M. constructus Young, 1954: The holotype specimen, represented by a partial skeleton.
- M. fuxiensis Hou, Zhao & Chu, 1976: Partial skeleton, include parts of a skull.
- M. hochuanensis Young & Zhao, 1972: Four partial skeletons.
- M. sinocanadorum D. Russell & Zheng, 1994: Partial skull, isolated bones. It may have been the largest, up to 26 meters (85 feet) in length.
Gallery
 Mamenchisaurus Rising, Field Museum, 2005 |
 Mamenchisaurus with Boy in Blue, Field Museum, 2005 |