(PLAY-tee-uh-sawr-us)

This was the most common of the early dinosaurs known to science. Plateosaurus means "flat lizard," and it has given its name to a family of at least seven different types. Others include Lufengosaurus and Massospondylus. Plateosaurus was larger than either of these. It had a very thick tail with strong muscles. It would have been able to use the base of its spine as a prop. By doing this and rearing up on its hind legs, it could tear down branches of high trees or munch the tops of palms.

These dinosaurs date from the end of the Triassic, more than 200 million years ago. They and their relatives have been found all over the world. Plateosaurus must have been particularly common in Europe, where many fossil bones have been found. These dinosaurs lived for many millions of years before they died out. Some scientists think that they were the true ancestors of the giant, four-footed sauropods like Apatosaurus and Diplodocus.

Location: France, Germany, Switzerland

Diet: Leafy plants

Size: Length 6-8m

Classification:

Family Plateosauridae

Infraorder Prosauropoda

Suborder Sauropodomorpha

Order Saurischia

Time (million years ago): 220