Prehistoric life
Diplodocids were a family of giant sauropod dinosaurs. They had shorter legs and longer necks and tails than the other types of sauropod, but were still massive beasts, weighing several times more than African elephants. Despite being herbivores, their teeth were unsuited to chewing plant matter, so - like today's chickens - they swallowed stones to grind the food in the stomach. Unlike chickens, being 30 metres long they had to select rather large stones for this to be effective. It's thought that they may have used their long necks for reaching down to feed on the ground, rather than for reaching up into the crown of trees as giraffes do.
Scientific name: Diplodocidae
Rank: Family
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Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
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Jurassic periodDiplodocids, or members of the family Diplodocidae ("double beams"), are a group of sauropod dinosaurs. The family includes some of the longest creatures ever to walk the earth, including Diplodocus and Supersaurus, which may have reached lengths of up to 34 metres (112 ft).
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