Brachytrachelopan Characteristics

Brachytrachelopan grew up to 33 feet (10 metres) in length and weighed upto 10 tons. It had a short neck, approximately 40% shorter than other dicraeosaurids and the shortest of any known sauropod, and a long tail. Brachytrachelopan is one of those rare exceptions in that all other sauropods (giant, plodding, plant-eating dinosaurs) had long necks. When it was discovered a few years ago, Brachytrachelopan shocked paleontologists with its short neck, about half as long as that of other sauropods. The most convincing explanation for this unusual feature is that Brachytrachelopan who was a herbivorous dinosaur, survived on a particular type of vegetation that grew a few feet above the ground.

Brachytrachelopan looked similar to the Stegosaurus, but without the spikes and plates on its back. Instead it had a ridge down its back with spines on the top of it. This ridge may have had strong muscles in it that supported its neck or it may have been brightly coloured and used for signaling to other dinosaurs, attracting them as mates or to warn them to stay away.

The story behind Brachytrachelopans unusual name meaning 'short-necked shepherd' is that its fossils were discovered by a South American shepherd, called Daniel Mesa, out looking for his lost sheep. 'Pan' is the half-goat, half-human god of Greek legend. Pan being the god of the shepherds.

Known from a partial neck, dorsal vertebrae (backbone), ribs, partial pelvis and limb bones, Brachytrachelopan had, proportionately, the shortest neck of any known sauropod. Only half of one skeleton has ever been found, a lot of the bones were probably lost from erosion through the many years before its discovery.