BRACHIOSAURIDS

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(Sauropodomorpha; Sauropoda; Neosauropoda)
These "arm lizards" probably evolved from creatures like Cetiosaurus, but they had relatively longer neck and arms and higher shoulders, with arms longer than their rear legs. The neck vertebrae were very elongated, as were the cervical ribs.They had enlarged external nostrils (as a characteristic nasal crest), a relatively long muzzle and long, slender fingers. Their skull was large with a vaulted nasal bone.The claw on the first finger was very much reduced in size. Built like immense giraffes, they may have browsed tall trees. It was once thought that they may have submerged to avoid enemies, but this is now thought unlikely as the increased water pressure would probably have collapsed their lungs. Brachiosaurids included the heaviest ever land animals - some may have weighed as much as 20 elephants or 1 blue whale. The biggest may in fact have been longer than Diplodocus, often considered the longest dinosaur. They were all herbivore s with large, flat, peg-like teeth. They existed from mid Jurassic to late Cretaceous times.