Massospondylus was a genus of sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived from the Late Triassic. Its name means \"massive vertebrae\" and it was named by Richard Owen in 1854. It was one of the first dinosaurs to be named. Different skeletons were found in these dinosaurs from South Africa, Arizona, India and Argentina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a medium-sized quadruped dinosaur, about 1.5 meters tall and with a 2.5 meter long tail. However, it could stand up and possibly walk on its hind legs. It was a herbivorous dinosaur. Although prosapods were speculated to have been omnivorous, especially if alternative plant sources were scarce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They swallowed pebbles and small stones to aid digestion or to grind against hard leaves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massospondylus had a large body and a long neck. It has a small head and almost circular eye sockets. It had an enlarged thumb claw that was used as a grooming tool or for digging or grasping food. The teeth of the lower jaw were not as long as those of the upper jaw. The hind legs were only slightly larger than the front legs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does massospondylus mean?<\/strong>
Massospondylus means \"massive vertebra\" referring to the creature's large neck bones.<\/p> <\/div>
Where was the Massospondylus found?<\/strong>
Massospondylus was discovered in South Africa and, consequently, other fossils have since been found elsewhere in South Africa, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.<\/p> <\/div>
When does Massospondylus live?<\/strong>
Massospondylus lived during the Early Jurassic period some 208 to 204 million years ago in what is now southern Africa and North America.<\/p> <\/div>
Who appointed Massospondylus?<\/strong>
It was named by Richard Owen in 1854.<\/p> <\/div>
What does Massospondylus eat?<\/strong>
It was a herbivorous dinosaur. Although it was speculated that prosauropods had been omnivorous, especially if alternative plant sources were scarce.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\t\n\t