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Supersaurus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Superorder: Dinosauria
Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Sauropodomorpha
Infraorder: Sauropoda
Family: Diplodocidae
Genus: Supersaurus
Binomial name
Supersaurus vivianae
Jensen, 1985
Synonyms
Dystylosaurus Jensen, 1985
Ultrasauros Olshevsky, 1991
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Supersaurus (meaning "super lizard") was a diplodocid dinosaur discovered in a rock formation in the U.S. state of Colorado in 1972, alongside bones of a Brachiosaurus. Supersaurus yielded only a few bones; the shoulder blade and a few neck vertebrae. The shoulder blade (scapula), itself, stood more than six feet tall, if placed on end, making it taller than most adult humans. Supersaurus may have been up to 35 meters (116 feet) long, making it the largest member of the diplodocid family.
At the time, the combination of bones was thought to belong to a single dinosaur, named "Ultrasaurus" macintoshi (later renamed Ultrasauros). Because the type specimen of Ultrasauros consisted of Supersaurus bones, and since Supersaurus was named slightly earlier, the name Ultrasauros has been discarded in favor of Supersaurus. Dr. Jim Jensen named both animals in 1985.
A new Supersaurus has been found in Converse County, Wyoming. It is currently being excavated and its bones are being held at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center. [1]
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