Camarasaurus fossil map
Where fossils of Camarasaurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 145 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 145 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Sauropods & prosauropods |
|---|---|
| Lived | 161.5–143.1 million years ago (Oxfordian to Tithonian) |
| Periods | Jurassic |
| Family | Camarasauridae |
| Named by | Cope 1877 |
| Fossil records | 138 occurrences at 93 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Zimbabwe, Portugal, Germany |
| Rock formations | Morrison, Kadzi, Alcobaça, Süntel |
About Camarasaurus
Camarasaurus ( KAM-ər-ə-SOR-əs) is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian ages, c. 155 to 143 million years ago) in North America. Over 530 specimens have been found in rocks of the Morrison Formation in the western United States, including several nearly complete skeletons. It is the most common dinosaur in the Morrison Formation and one of the best understood sauropods.
Camarasaurus was a bulky sauropod with a proportionally wide rib cage. Its skull was proportionally larger and more strongly built than that of other sauropods, with powerful jaws that allowed for high bite forces. It had 13–14 teeth on each side of the upper jaw and 13 teeth on each side of the lower jaw. The teeth were spoon-shaped, tilted forwards, and rapidly replaced. Camarasaurus was probably a selective feeder that fed at heights of 2 to 5 m (7 to 16 ft). Specimens range from a presumed embryo to an individual that probably reached 40 years of age, one of the oldest reported ages for an individual dinosaur. Skin impressions have been found on one specimen, and several specimens show signs of injury or disease, such as bite marks and arthritis. Individuals might have seasonally migrated to avoid the dry season in the Morrison basin.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Camarasaurus (revision 1378313111), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q14419.
