Vulcanodon was an extinct genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in the Early Jurassic of southern Africa. In 1969, it was discovered in what is now Zimbabwe. For decades it was known to be one of the earliest and most primitive sauropods ever found. Michael Raath named it in 1972, meaning \"volcano tooth\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a herbivore that lived on the ground and walked on all fours. It has a sauropod body with spine-like legs and a long neck and tail. Compared to other sauropods, it was much smaller, approximately 6.5 meters long, and weighed 3.5 tons. Its limbs were stout and columnar in shape. The forelimbs were proportionally long, and its lower leg, metatarsus and toes were shorter compared to its bipedal ancestors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michael Raath named it in 1972, which means \"volcano tooth\".<\/p> <\/div>
It was a ground-dwelling herbivore that fed on a combination of leaves, twigs and seeds, found in the tops of tall trees or near the ground.\u00a0
In 1969, it was discovered in what is now Zimbabwe.