Camarasaurids Temporal range: Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous,
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Skeleton of Camarasaurus | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Clade: | Saurischia |
Clade: | †Sauropodomorpha |
Clade: | †Sauropoda |
Clade: | †Neosauropoda |
Clade: | †Macronaria |
Clade: | †Camarasauromorpha |
Family: | †Camarasauridae Cope, 1877 |
Type genus | |
†Camarasaurus Cope, 1877
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Genera | |
Synonyms | |
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Camarasauridae is a family of sauropod dinosaurs.[1] Among sauropods, camarasaurids are small to medium-sized, with relatively short necks. They are visually identifiable by a short skull with large nares, and broad, spatulate teeth filling a thick jaw.[2][3] Based on cervical vertebrae and cervical rib biomechanics, camarasaurids most likely moved their necks in a vertical, rather than horizontal, sweeping motion, in contrast to most diplodocids.[2]