Brachiosaurus

Brachiosaurus Temporal range: Upper Jurassic
Bronze cast of a B. altithorax specimen outside the Field Museum of Natural History
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Class:	Sauropsida
Superorder:	Dinosauria
Order:	Saurischia
Suborder:	Sauropodomorpha
Infraorder:	Sauropoda
Family:	Brachiosauridae
Genus:	Brachiosaurus Riggs, 1903

Brachiosaurus (meaning "Arm lizard") was a herbivorous dinosaur genus that lived in the Upper Jurassic period. The name comes from the fact that the Brachiosaur's front legs were longer than its back legs. Most other dinosaurs had back legs that were longer than their front legs or arms. Brachiosaurus was about 25 m (82 feet) long and 13-18 meters (42-60 feet) tall. It was one of the biggest dinosaurs.

Brachiosaurus was a sauropod. Its fossils were found in North America and Asia. At full stretch, Brachiosaurus could reach heights of up to 16 meters (52 feet). The Brachiosaurus skeleton in the Humboldt Museum in Berlin, Germany is both the tallest and largest complete sauropod skeleton. This means that it is also the tallest and largest complete dinosaur skeleton.

Diet

Brachiosaurus was a strictly herbivorous dinosaur. Its long neck enabled it to browse foliage at heights that were inaccessible to most other herbivorous dinosaurs. Fossil evidence suggests that it fed primarily on conifers, cycads, and other tall plants. Its peg-like teeth were adapted for stripping leaves rather than chewing, indicating a feeding strategy focused on high-browsing.

Behavior

Brachiosaurus likely exhibited social behavior, potentially moving in loose herds for protection. Its massive size and slow locomotion suggest it relied on height and bulk as defense mechanisms against predators. The structure of its neck and limbs indicates that it could feed efficiently over a wide vertical range without needing to move extensively, reducing energy expenditure while foraging.