Brontosaurus vs. Brachiosaurus: both have similar characteristics to sauropods, like long, massive necks, small heads, and herbivorous diet. Because of their similar morphology and behavior, these two are easily confused. But if we talk about Brontosaurus and Brachiosaurus differences, both have different postures, feeding habits, sizes, and habitats.
Let’s take a closer look at Brachiosaurus vs. Brontosaurus
| Period | Both are from the late Jurassic Period |
| Species | Brachiosaurus had only 1 specie, while brontosaurus had 3 |
| Browsing | Both were vegetarian |
| Weight | Brachiosaurus was considered to be heavier |
Table of Contents
What Is Brontosaurus?
Brontosaurus belongs to the sauropod genus of dinosaurs, which lived in North America during the Late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago. This dinosaur’s fossils were found in Western North America in 1874. The specimen is still displayed on display in the Great Hall of Yale’s Peabody Museum of Natural History. This specimen is a large, long-necked, quadrupedal animal with a long tail and short forelimbs, slightly shorter than the hindlimbs. Brontosaurus had a tall spine on its vertebrae, like its close relative, Apatosaurus. Brontosaurus is a well-known dinosaur to be featured in films, postage stamps, advertising, and many other media types.
What Is Brachiosaurus?
Brachiosaurus is also from the genus sauropod and lived in North America during the Late Jurassic period about 150 million years ago. The fossil of this dinosaur was first described in 1903 by an American paleontologist. This fossil was found in the Colorado River Valley in Western Colorado, United States. Like all other sauropods, Brachiosaurus also had a long neck, a small skull, and a large trunk with a long muscular tail and slender, columnar limbs. Brachiosaurus is considered to be one of the most iconic and largest dinosaurs. Unlike some other sauropods, it wasn’t good at rearing on its hindlimbs. Brachiosaurus has been used as an example of the dinosaurs, which was ectothermic because of its large body and sufficient forage.
6 Key Differences Between Brontosaurus And Brachiosaurus
| Components | Brontosaurus | Brachiosaurus |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | The first fossil of a brontosaurus was discovered in 1874 in North America and was described by an American paleontologist named Othniel Charles. | The first fossil of Brachiosaurus was found in the Colorado River Valley in Western Colorado and described by Elmer S. Riggs, an American paleontologist, in 1903. |
| Physical Measurements | If we compare Bronto vs. Brachiosaurus length brontosaurus had a longer body as compared to Brachiosaurus.B. excelsus, a Brontosaurus type species, is estimated to have 8.5meter meters in height, 15 tons in weight, and a length of 22 meters from head to tail. | Paleontologists believe that the tallest structure of Brachiosaurus is 9.4 meters tall, with a length of 18-21 meters from head to tail. The weight of this dinosaur is reported to be about 35 metric tons. |
| Neck Posture | The brontosaurus had a short type of neck that could be easily leaned lower and closer to the ground. They were paired and spun in the neckbone to support colossal structure. | The Brachiosaurus had a longer neck that they held high, the same as the posture of the giraffe. The cervical vertebrae of this dinosaur allow it to angle and lift its head easily to feed on tall trees. |
| Teeth | Brontosaurus had broad and tough teeth that resembled spatulas or spoons. This structure of teeth allows them to cut and chew the plant’s parts more efficiently as compared to other sauropods. | Brachiosaurus had pencil or pegs-shaped teeth. These teeth are long, slender, and have blunt triangular ends. This comb-like arrangement of these teeth suggests that the brontosaurus was not able to tear away tough plant material. |
| Feeding Habits | The taller stature of Brachiosaurus’ with a taller structure and upright neck, enabled it to eat the foliage present on the rooftop of trees and high places. This dinosaur’s broad and durable teeth also help break up the chunks and cut through the entire plant. | Brontosaurus had a horizontal neck posture, which is suited for the consumption of low vegetation. Although its height also makes it able to eat from tall trees and tall areas. These dinosaurs did not chew their food as they had gizzard stones to grind tough and fibrous parts of the plant. |
| Social Behavior | Brachiosaurus is often considered to roam alongside other members of their own species. They feed together in a herd on all vegetation in an area and then move to the next one. | Brontosaurus is considered much more of an aloof herbivore that travels in herds occasionally but mostly walks alone when eating. |
Brontosaurus vs. Brachiosaurus Similarities
- Whether it is Brontosaurus or Brachiosaurus, both have the same physiology, feeding habits, and other traits like small heads with long necks and sticking to a foliage diet and other plants.
- Both species of dinosaurs belong to the same Late Jurassic period in North America.
Brontosaurus vs. Brachiosaurus Examples
Brontosaurus Examples
- Brontosaurus Excelsus
- Brontosaurus Parvus
- Brontosaurus Yahnahton.
Brachiosaurus Examples
- Brachiosaurus Alataiensis de Lapparent
- Brachiosaurus Zbyszewski
- Brachiosaurus Lusotitan
Brontosaurus vs. Brachiosaurus Pros and Cons
Brontosaurus Pros & Cons
Pros of Brontosaurus
- Brontosaurus is a well-known dinosaur to be featured in films, postage stamps, advertising, and many other media types.
- Brontosaurus had a longer body as compared to Brachiosaurus.B. excelsus, a Brontosaurus type species, is estimated to have 8.5meter meters in height. Which helps them to feed from trees and rooftops.
Cons of Brontosaurus
- Due to their large size, the brontosaurus was not as active and faster than other dinosaurs.
- Due to the taller structure and upright necks, the brontosaurus was not easily fed on the grounds.
Brachiosaurus Pros & Cons
Pros of Brachiosaurus
- Brachiosaurus chews their food more effectively as compared to other sauropods due to the structure of their teeth.
- Brachiosaurus have longer forelimbs than their rear limbs, which allows them to stride farther.
Cons of Brachiosaurus
- Like many other sauropods, Brachiosaurus could not have reared up on their hind legs to feed from higher foliage.
- Brachiosaurus mostly walk alone, especially when feeding, making them vulnerable prey.
Comparison Chart
Comparison Video
Conclusion
Brontosaurus and Brachiosaurus are dinosaurs from the Giant sauropods genera. Both of these dinosaurs have the same physiology, eating habits, and other characteristics. But if we talk about brontosaurus meaning and Brachiosaurus meaning, these two species also differ in many ways. The main difference between Brontosaurus and Bronchiosaurus is that they have different sizes and postures for their feeding habits. Moreover, the front legs of Brachiosaurus are much longer than the back legs, and the front legs are slightly shorter in the brontosaurus. If we compare the brontosaurus versus brachiosaurus length, of the brontosaurus is much longer as they have to feed from the rooftop. These brontosauruses are considered to be one of the largest dinosaurs that were present on the earth.
