When Othniel
C. Marsh first recognized Ammosaurus's remains, he
confused them with those of another dinosaur, Anchisaurus.
It was not until 1891 that he renamed the fossils
as that of Ammosaurus. Ironically, some of the Anchisaurus
leftovers were thought to be remains of prehistoric
humans. Although no Ammosaurus skull has ever been
found, enough fossils was found to decide that it
was more closely related to Plateosaurus than Anchisaurus
as previously thought.
Ammosaurus
lived during the early Jurassic period, around 180
million years ago. It was a herbivore and could walk
on both four or two feet, the latter undoubtably allowing
it to reach higher branches. It had large claws on
its hands to allow it to strip bark from trees and
saplings. Compared to the relax of its body, Ammosaurus
had both a long tail & neck, suggesting that it
would have walked on four legs for most of its life,
only on foot on two to defend itself or reach food.
To defend itself, it would stand on its hind legs,
slashing at its assailant with its large thumb claws
on its fore legs. |
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