Apatosaurus is among the most famous sauropods of all, though most people probably know them by the name Brontosaurus. Apatosaurus were incredibly long animals, most of their bodies consisting of neck and tail, using their necks to allow them to graze for long distances. These large sauropods may not have been the longest of all of them, but they were still a magnificent sight to see migrating across the Jurassic plains.

Basic info

Meaning of name: Apatosaurus means "deceptive lizard".

Time of existence: Apatosaurus lived during the late Jurassic, 161.2 million to 145 million years ago.

Diet: Apatosaurus was a herbivore, feeding on many different plants like conifers, horsetails, grass, and ferns.

Threats: Despite their size, weak Apatosaurus may have been seen as prey by predators like Allosaurus.

Size: Apatosaurus grew anywhere from 69 to 75 feet long.

Attributes: Like Diplodocus, Apatosaurus had long necks that allowed them to eat for long distances, and a huge gut allowed them to digest food while the head ate. They also had stones in their guts that helped grind the food.

A herd of Apatosaurus wander through the desert

Appearances in the Walking with... series

The Ballad of Big Al

Apatosaurus is a recurring sight throughout the special. A large herd is first seen wandering the Jurassic plains when we see the world Big Al has been born into, with the narration stating that Apatosaurus are too large for even adult Allosaurus to attack.

A herd of Apatosaurus wander the Jurassic plains

Apatosaurus is next seen during Al's second year, crashing through the outer forest in search for food, baying. Al chooses not to attack them, as they are far too large. Apatosaurus makes a final appearance during Al's sixth year, where a herd is seen wandering through a desert.