Dystylosaurus Dorsal Vertebra Fossil

$2,500.00

The assignment of the more complete specimen, WDC DMJ-021, to Dystylosaurus or Supersaurus suggests that  it was very similar in anatomy to Apatosaurus but less robustly built with especially elongated cervical vertebrae.

Description

Dystylosaurus Dorsal Vertebra Fossil Replica measures 43 inches. 18 inch centrum. Dystylosaurus Dorsal Vertebra Fossil is museum quality polyurethane resin cast. Made in the USA. Dry Mesa Upper Jurassic Sauropod. BYU type specimen. Our precise dorsal vertebra can be used as a teaching tool, museum dorsal vertebra exhibit, home décor, or office décor. Requires a wooden crate. Please call 509-951-3557 for shipping quote.

Dystylosaurus or Supersaurus (meaning “super lizard”) is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Jurassic period.

The type species, S. vivianae, was first discovered by Vivian Jones of Delta, Colorado, in the middle Morrison Formation of Colorado in 1972. The fossil remains came from the Brushy Basin Member of the formation, dating to about 153 million years ago.

Dystylosaurus or Supersaurus is among the largest dinosaurs known from good remains, possibly reaching 108 to 112 feet in length, and a weight of 35.1 to 40.0 short tons.

The first described specimens of Dystylosaurus or Supersaurus were individual bones that suggested a large diplodocid. A large cervical vertebra BYU 9024 from the same quarry was later assigned to Supersaurus.

This vertebra measures 1,380 millimeters (54 in) and is the longest cervical known. However more recently this enormous vertebra has been reclassified as a Barosaurus vertebra, by Mike Taylor and Matt Wedel.

The assignment of the more complete specimen, WDC DMJ-021, to Dystylosaurus or Supersaurus suggests that in most respects it was very similar in anatomy to Apatosaurus but less robustly built with especially elongated cervical vertebrae, resulting in one of the longest known sauropod necks.

The original fossil remains of Dystylosaurus or Supersaurus were discovered in the Dry Mesa Quarry in 1972. This find yielded only a few bones: mainly the shoulder girdle, an ischium and tail vertebrae. Paleontologist James A. Jensen described Supersaurus; he designated a scapulocoracoid BYU 9025 (originally labeled as BYU 5500) as the type specimen.

This shoulder girdle stood some 2.4 meters (8 ft.) tall, if placed on end. The specimen Dystylosaurus was given the name Supersaurus informally as early as 1973, but was not officially described and named until more than a decade later, in 1985.

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Additional information

Weight 44 lbs
Dimensions 43 × 18 in
Dystylosaurus Facts

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Suborder: †Sauropodomorpha
Clade: †Sauropoda
Clade: †Eusauropoda
Clade: †Neosauropoda
Family: †Diplodocidae
Subfamily: †Diplodocinae
Genus: †Supersaurus