Plateosaurus - Meaning : flat lizard 

Plateosaurus (pronounced plat-ee-oh-SORE-us) was the largest dinosaur known to have existed during the Triassic Period of the Mesozoic Era, reaching 6 to 10 metres in length and up to an estimated 700kg in mass.

Like all sauropodomorphs, Plateosaurus was a saurischian. A member of the group of early herbivores, known as prosauropods, it had a long neck, stocky body and a pear-shaped trunk.

A recent analysis of fossil deposits reveals there was considerable variation in size in individuals. Furthermore, growth rings in bone suggests periods of varying growth which may relate to the surrounding environment. The metabolism of Plateosaurus may have been intermediate between a reptilian and warm-blooded one.

The skull of Plateosaurus was deeper than that of a Coelophysis, although still small and narrow compared to the size of its body. It had a long snout and socketed teeth and its eyes were directed to the sides, rather than the front, providing all-round vision to watch for predators.

Like all prosauropods, Plateosaurus had forelimbs which were much shorter than the hind limbs and they had distinct digits ('fingers') and a spiked 'thumb'. This suggests that, while its mass suggests it was mainly quadrupedal, it may have been able to rear up on its hind legs. The forelimbs may have been used to rake trees for food, for grasping or for defence.

The natural environment of Plateosaurus was desert-like land in Europe.