Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Dinosaurs

Brachiosaurus

Brachiosaurus is a genus of large, plant-eating sauropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Brachiosaurus is a giant plant-eating sauropod from the Late Jurassic. Its long neck and longer front legs gave it a giraffe-like posture to reach high vegetation.

What it is

Brachiosaurus had a long neck, small head, massive body, and pillar-like limbs. Its forelegs were longer than its hind legs, giving it a giraffe-like posture that likely helped it reach tall vegetation.

Key features

Brachiosaurus belongs to sauropods, long-necked plant-eaters. Its name means 'arm lizard' for its long front limbs. The recognized species is Brachiosaurus altithorax.

Fossils and size

Fossils are best known from North America's Morrison Formation. Estimates place it over 80 feet long and more than 28 tons, making it one of the largest land animals.

In short

  • Brachiosaurus had a long neck and longer forelegs.
  • It was a herbivore that fed on high plants.
  • Fossils primarily from North America.
  • One of the largest dinosaurs to walk Earth.
Canadian angle

Brachiosaurus is a familiar dinosaur in Canadian museums, school materials, and science education, where it is often used to illustrate sauropod anatomy and Jurassic ecosystems.

Quick questions

What does Brachiosaurus mean?
It means 'arm lizard,' referring to its longer forelegs.
Was Brachiosaurus a predator?
No. Brachiosaurus was a herbivore that ate plants.
When did Brachiosaurus live?
It lived during the Late Jurassic, roughly 156–145 million years ago.

Sources

  1. National Geographic Kids — https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric/facts/brachiosaurus
    Supports: Late Jurassic age, size, diet, sauropod classification, name meaning
  2. Natural History Museum — https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/brachiosaurus.html
    Supports: Name meaning, Late Jurassic age, North American occurrence
  3. Live Science — https://www.livescience.com/25024-brachiosaurus.html
    Supports: Fossil distribution, name meaning, foreleg proportions, Jurassic age
  4. Britannica Kids — https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Brachiosaurus/390028
    Supports: Sauropod classification, body form, habitat, size estimates, fossil locations
  5. Thanksgiving Point — https://thanksgivingpoint.org/15-big-time-brachiosaurus-facts/
    Supports: Recognition of a single species, Brachiosaurus altithorax