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Seismosaurus

Seismosaurus

9.9
A large dinosaur once thought to be a separate kind but now seen as a type of Diplodocus
  • proper noun
  • /ˌsaɪzməˈsɔrəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : seismosaurio
  • Fossils of Seismosaurus have been discovered in New Mexico, revealing its enormous length of up to 140 feet.

Examples

  • One of the most fascinating dinosaurs is Seismosaurus, known for its massive size and herbivorous diet.

  • And some people thought Ultrasaurus and Seismosaurus were even larger than Brachiosaurus.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • A recent contender for top honors, at a possible 140 feet, is Seismosaurus, discovered in 1985 in New Mexico and currently under excavation by Utah.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Hell, the fossilized vertebrae of the longest dinosaur that ever lived, Seismosaurus, were found only fifteen years ago in New Mexico, and he was a huge sucker.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The rare genus Seismosaurus was once thought to be the largest dinosaur, captivating paleontologists since its discovery.

Synonyms

seismosaur
vsSeismosaurus
  • Specialized
9.9

A very large dinosaur that ate plants and lived in western North America during the Cretaceous

is a former genus now generally classified under Diplodocus
ground-shaker
vsSeismosaurus
  • US
9.9

A very large plant-eating dinosaur from western North America that lived long ago

is the scientific name once used and now reclassified under Diplodocus

Surface Forms

Morphology

Seismosaurus = seism + saurus (semi-transparent) = seismo + saurus

Same morphological build as other senses: formed from 'seism-' + '-saurus', clear in form for those who know the roots but not fully transparent to average learners.

Etymology

Seismosaurus was once used as the name for a very large dinosaur and the name comes from parts meaning 'earthquake' and 'lizard', like the English word seismic and the root saurus. It is now usually considered a type of Diplodocus, but the old name still helps you imagine a giant, 'earth-shaking' animal.