Cetiosauriscus

Type Species: Cetiosauriscus stewarti

Classification: Dinosauria – Saurischia – Sauropoda – Gravisauria - Eusauropoda

Time Period: Middle Jurassic

Location: Europe (England) 

Diet: Herbivore 

The sauropod Cetiosauriscus lived from the Callovian stage of the Middle Jurassic to the Oxfordian stage of the Late Jurassic. England at this point in history was a collection of low-lying islands jutting out of a shallow sea. Movement between the islands was possible, either by swimming or via land-bridges or by crossing in supremely shallow areas. Cetiosauriscus was discovered in the Oxford Clay Formation of England, which is known for its rich fossil record of fish and invertebrates. Scattered throughout this record of the prehistoric ‘Oxford Clay Sea’ are the remains of marine reptiles, oceangoing marine crocodylomorphs, and even terrestrial animals that suffered a watery grave. Cetiosauriscus is one of these creatures, and it didn’t suffer alone: the Oxford Clay has also given us fossilized remains of the theropod Eustreptospondylus, the primitive ankylosaur Sarcolestes, and the primitive stegosaur Lexovisaurus. Fossilized dinosaur eggs have also been preserved. 

Cetiosauriscus had a moderately long tail (even for sauropod standards), and its forelimbs were as long as its hind limbs. It could grow up to fifty feet in length and weighed between four and ten tons. Examination of its tail vertebrae show similarities to the later Diplodocus. Scientists speculate that the biconvex distal caudal vertebrae in sauropods were used for making whip-like cracking noises, as they were thin and delicate and not intended for impact (indeed, fractured or healed tail vertebrae are common). The purpose of the whip-like noises may have been to communicate between species or to ward off predators by practically bursting their ear drums if they got too close.