Fun Lourinhasaurus Facts For Kids
Gallery
Lourinhasaurus (Lourinhasaurus alenquerensis) was a dinosaur of the Late Jurassic Period that became extinct about 145 million years ago. Their fossil evidence was collected from Estremadura in Portugal. An incomplete skeleton was excavated.
These dinos were quite bulky and had a long neck and a long tail. They had pillar-like limbs and were quadrupeds.
Previously they were thought to be similar to the Apatosaurus species. Later on, they were grouped under the Sauropoda and Saurischia clades. These dinos were herbivorous in nature and had strong jaws with powerful teeth to completely crush and grind the leaves.
Please keep reading to know more interesting facts about these dinosaur species and their natural history.
Lourinhasaurus Interesting Facts
How do you pronounce 'Lourinhasaurus'?
Lourinhasaurus genus is pronounced as 'Lore-in-ha-sore-us'.
What type of dinosaur was a Lourinhasaurus?
Lourinhasaurus alenquerensis of Portugal was a sauropod, which was also grouped under the Dinosauria,†‬Saurischia,†‬Sauropodomorpha,†‬Eusauropoda, Macronaria, and Camarasauridae clades.
In which geological period did the Lourinhasaurus roam the Earth?
This dinosaur species existed during the Late Jurassic Period.
When did the Lourinhasaurus become extinct?
It became extinct about 145 million years ago.
Where did Lourinhasaurus live?
Lourinhasaurus fossils were excavated from Estremadura in Portugal.
What was the Lourinhasauruss' habitat?
These dinosaurs inhabited the forests, grasslands, and regions with dense vegetation, where they foraged on various kinds of plants.
Who did the Lourinhasaurus live with?
We do not know if this particular species of Portugal lived alone or roamed in small groups. However, sauropods moved in small groups and foraged together.
How long did a Lourinhasaurus live?
Although no data is available regarding the life expectancy of these dinosaurs, sauropods lived for about 70-80 years, while some of the bigger sauropods lived for about 300 years.
How did they reproduce?
They reproduced by laying eggs. Their eggs were amniotic in nature. Sauropod hatchlings were no bigger than an adult goose.
However, their growth was at an exceptionally fast rate. The hatchlings did not need any parental care after their birth and thrived on their own. Many of these animal species of Portugal engaged in neck-slapping duels with their rival suitors at the time of mating.
Lourinhasaurus Fun Facts
What did the Lourinhasaurus look like?
These dinos had huge bodies with long necks. They were quadrupeds with broad hind feet. Their front feet were similar to those of the elephants. The evidence from the fossils tells us about their small skull size and long tails. Previously they were thought to be similar to the Apatosaurus species.
Â
How many bones did a Lourinhasaurus have?
Due to a lack of fossil specimen evidence, we do not have information on the total number of bones these dinosaurs had. Only a partial skeleton was recovered from Western Europe. The phylogenetic reassessment reveals to us that their morphology was similar to most other sauropod dinosaurs.
How did they communicate?
Just like other Sauropod dinosaurs, the Lourinhasaurus used its visual as well as vocal skills to communicate with each other. Study material on these species also tells us that they produced low grunts and other similar sounds.
How big was the Lourinhasaurus?
The Lourinhasaurus was a bulky dinosaur with an average length of 56 ft (17 m) and a height of 20 ft (6 m). They were way bigger than the Magyrosaurus, which was a dwarf sauropod of the Cretaceous Period. Magyrosaurus was thought to have suffered from insular dwarfism.
How fast could a Lourinhasaurus move?
Owing to their bulky body and thick legs, they were not fast runners. However, evidence on the remains of the Lourinhasaurus genera highlights that they were able to trot with an average speed of 4.4 mph (7.08 kph).
How much did a Lourinhasaurus weigh?
The fossil evidence of this species was not enough to reveal their weight. However, most of the dinosaurs belonging to the Sauropod clade had an average weight of 132277-176370 lb (59999.83-80000 kg).
What were the male and female names of the species?
There are no specific names given to the male and female dinosaur species of the Lourinhasaurus genera.
What would you call a baby Lourinhasaurus?
A baby Lourinhasaurus may be called a hatchling or a nestling due to the fact that they laid eggs, just like other sauropods.
How aggressive were they?
As these dinos of Portugal were plant-eaters, it is safe to assume that they were not aggressive in nature. However, their huge body, along with a large neck, was quite intimidating for other animals of that age.
Did You Know…
From several pieces of evidence on the phylogenetic research, the sauropods had large appetites. To keep up with their constant foraging on plants, they had their tooth replaced every 14 days. Thus, we can consider these dinos extremely greedy.
The partial skeleton of this dinosaur of the Lourinhasaurus genus was excavated from a nearby village of Alenquer in the year 1949. From there, the name 'alenquerensis' was derived.
In 1957, the name Apatosaurus alenquerensis was given by Albert-Félix de Lapparent and Georges Zbyszewski . Again John Stanton McIntosh gave the name of this species, Camarasaurus alenquerensis, in the year 1990. Much later in 1998, the name of the genus, Lourinhasaurus, was given by Pedro Dantas.
*We've been unable to source an image of a Lourinhasaurus and have used an image of Stegosaurus instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a Lourinhasaurus, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com.
*We've been unable to source an image of a Lourinhasaurus and have used an image of T-Rex instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a Lourinhasaurus, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com.
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
Postgraduate Diploma in Management
Sakshi RaturiPostgraduate Diploma in Management
Sakshi has experience in marketing strategy, social media planning, and recruiting industry experts for capstone projects, she has displayed a commitment to enhancing their skills and knowledge. She has won multiple awards, including a Certificate of Appreciation for Creative Writing and a Certificate of Merit for Immaculate Turut, and is always seeking new opportunities to grow and develop.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.
