Walking with Dinosaurs: Apatosaurus

Apatosaurus ajax
Named by Othniel Charles Marsh, 1877
Diet: Herbivore
Type: Sauropodomorph Sauropod (Diplodocid) dinosaur
Size: 75 feet (23 meters) long and 22 to 29 tons [Note: A few isolated vertebrae attributed to this species may indicate that Apatosaurus was even larger than we thought, reaching possible near sizes as the 112-foot (34-meter) Supersaurus vivianae]
Region: North America (Colorado, Wyoming, and Oklahoma USA)
Age: Late Jurassic (154 to 150 million BC; Late Kimmeridgian to Early Tithonian)
Enemies: The giant healthy adults have none due to their large size, but its the young, sick, and injured that are softer targets to predators such as Saurophaganax and Allosaurus
Episode: The Ballad of Big Al
Info: One of the best-known sauropods and an iconic dinosaur, Apatosaurus was shorter than its contemporary cousin Diplodocus, but it was more massive and bulkier and it was so large, that its long, whip-like tail could create a loud explosive sound of 200 decimals to ward off attackers such as Saurophaganax    . A trackway of a juvenile Apatosaurus has led some to believe that they were capable of running bipedally, though this is disputed.

Note: Based on as well as the how to do an apatosaurine by . Fighting based on Juan Carlos Alonio illustration. Normally I draw dinosaurs just standing, feeding, and walking, but I should also draw them fighting for dominance, territory, and mating. The colouration was difficult. I gave the updated versions some bright color, showing that these were two dominant bulls fighting. The spikes along the throat is based on a recent study by Mike Taylor and Matt Wedel the robust cervical vertebrae of apatosaurines are built to withstand strong impacts, implying that the sauropods used their muscular necks for combat. Ventral processes on their cervical ribs might have supported bosses or even spikes. Most likely those necks were built for battling rivals of the same species, or even defense against predators.

On 2/26/2019, I updated it by adding spikes on the whipped tails

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