( bah-RAH-puh-sawr-us)

Barapasaurus means "big leg lizard" and is a combination of indian and Greek words. It is called Barapasaurus because it had large legs. Unlike most other sauropod (lizard feet) dinosaurs, Barapasaurus did not have thick legs. Its limbs were long and slim, and it had a short head and spoon-shaped teeth. Some scientists believe it should belong in a family of its own. [Most put it among a group of lizard-foot dinosaurs separate from other groups like Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus.

The most notable difference between Barapasaurus and other sauropods is that it had longer legs, a taller neck, and a comparatively shorter tail. Scientists used to think dinosaurs like these spent all their life in lakes or rivers. They now think Barapasaurus lived by grazing and eating almost continuously.

Dinosaurs like Barapasaurus first appeared almost 200 million years ago. They led to large number of giant plant eaters found all over the world. Barapasaurus probably died out around 150 million years ago.

Location: Central India

Diet: Plants

Size: Length 49 feet (15 meters)

Classification:

Family Cetiosauridae        

Suborder Sauropodomorpha

Order Saurischia

Time (million years ago): Late Triassic