Dicraeosaurus

forked lizard

• dikraios (dicraeo-) · Greek · forked, bifurcated
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name means "forked lizard". It refers to the deeply split (bifurcated) neural spines on its neck and back vertebrae, which gave the vertebrae a forked appearance. This is a hallmark of dicraeosaurid sauropods.

Named by

Janensch

Year named

1914

Period

Late Jurassic

Stages

Kimmeridgian – Tithonian

Found in

Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania

A relatively small, short-necked diplodocoid sauropod in the family Dicraeosauridae. Two species are recognised: D. hansemanni (type) and D. sattleri.