Late Jurassic Period
163-145 million years ago
The Late Jurassic is the golden age of the giants. This is when the most famous Jurassic dinosaurs lived: massive sauropods like Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus, armored Stegosaurus, predatory Allosaurus, and the first known bird, Archaeopteryx. The Morrison Formation in North America and the Tendaguru Formation in Africa preserve incredible windows into this world.
Fun Facts
- âThe Morrison Formation in the American West preserves one of the richest Late Jurassic ecosystems ever found.
- âBrachiosaurus may have weighed up to 60 tons, making it one of the heaviest land animals ever.
- âArchaeopteryx, discovered in Germany, is the earliest known bird and dates to the Late Jurassic.
- âAllosaurus was the apex predator of the Late Jurassic, comparable in role to T. rex in the Cretaceous.
- âDiplodocus had the longest tail of any known dinosaur, possibly used like a whip for defense.
Questions About the Late Jurassic
Dinosaurs of the Late Jurassic Period
AllosaurusAL-oh-saw-russApatosaurusah-PAT-oh-sore-usArchaeopteryxark-ee-OPT-er-ixBrachiosaurusBRAK-ee-oh-sore-usCamarasaurusKAM-ar-a-SORE-usCamptosaurusKAMP-toe-sore-usCeratosaurusser-AT-oh-sore-usCompsognathuskomp-sog-NATH-usDiplodocusDIP-low-DOCK-usElaphrosaurusel-AF-ro-SORE-usGargoyleosaurusgar-GOY-lee-oh-SORE-usKentrosaurusken-TROH-sore-usSinraptorSY-nuh-RAP-torStegosaurusSTEG-oh-SORE-usTianyulongtee-EN-yoo-longYinlongYIN-long