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| − | '''''Mamenchisaurus''''' is one of the most unique long-necked dinosaurs for a very good reason - it has a really long neck. In fact, it had the longest neck of any creature that ever lived. Stretching 18 metres (59 ft), the neck on Mamenchisaurus was longer than a school bus! The rest of it was just like other members of its family; a long tail, stout legs |
+ | '''''Mamenchisaurus''''' is one of the most unique long-necked dinosaurs for a very good reason - it has a really long neck. In fact, it had the longest neck of any creature that ever lived. Stretching 18 metres (59 ft), the neck on Mamenchisaurus was longer than a school bus! The rest of it was just like other members of its family; a long tail, with stout legs.<ref name="JPI">[[Jurassic Park Institute]], Dinopedia/Mamenchisaurus. [http://web.archive.org/web/20030813081818/http://www.jpinstitute.com/dinopedia/dinocards/dc_mamen.html Link]</ref> |
The architecture of the neck of this dinosaur is incredible. It had 19 neck vertebrae, more than any other dinosaur. The vertebrae had long struts running between them that would have limited the ability of ''Mamenchisaurus'' to turn its neck too sharply, but it could still reach well up into the trees to feed. This plant-eater had spatula-shaped teeth that seem to have been well designed to chew coarse plant material. This is one feature that makes it different from the members of the Diplodocidae family, which had peg shaped teeth, to which it has been thought to belong. It is now being thought of as possibly part of a group of sauropods unique to Asia. Most of the big Asian sauropods, such as ''Omeisaurus'', had spatulate teeth. In fact, the Asian sauropods, including ''Mamenchisaurus'', seem to share more characteristics with ''[[Brachiosaurus]]'' than with ''[[Diplodocus]]''. For evidence of this, one needs to look no further than the nose - ''Mamenchisaurus'' and other Asian sauropods are very close in evolutionary terms to that of ''Brachiosaurus''. It is also thought that another aspect that these creatures had in common was that they were finding their food high off the ground. ''Diplodocus'' and ''Apatosaurus'' on the other hand were likely feeding on low growing plants.<ref name="JPI" /> |
The architecture of the neck of this dinosaur is incredible. It had 19 neck vertebrae, more than any other dinosaur. The vertebrae had long struts running between them that would have limited the ability of ''Mamenchisaurus'' to turn its neck too sharply, but it could still reach well up into the trees to feed. This plant-eater had spatula-shaped teeth that seem to have been well designed to chew coarse plant material. This is one feature that makes it different from the members of the Diplodocidae family, which had peg shaped teeth, to which it has been thought to belong. It is now being thought of as possibly part of a group of sauropods unique to Asia. Most of the big Asian sauropods, such as ''Omeisaurus'', had spatulate teeth. In fact, the Asian sauropods, including ''Mamenchisaurus'', seem to share more characteristics with ''[[Brachiosaurus]]'' than with ''[[Diplodocus]]''. For evidence of this, one needs to look no further than the nose - ''Mamenchisaurus'' and other Asian sauropods are very close in evolutionary terms to that of ''Brachiosaurus''. It is also thought that another aspect that these creatures had in common was that they were finding their food high off the ground. ''Diplodocus'' and ''Apatosaurus'' on the other hand were likely feeding on low growing plants.<ref name="JPI" /> |
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Revision as of 03:21, 6 February 2016
Mamenchisaurus is one of the most unique long-necked dinosaurs for a very good reason - it has a really long neck. In fact, it had the longest neck of any creature that ever lived. Stretching 18 metres (59 ft), the neck on Mamenchisaurus was longer than a school bus! The rest of it was just like other members of its family; a long tail, with stout legs.[1]
The architecture of the neck of this dinosaur is incredible. It had 19 neck vertebrae, more than any other dinosaur. The vertebrae had long struts running between them that would have limited the ability of Mamenchisaurus to turn its neck too sharply, but it could still reach well up into the trees to feed. This plant-eater had spatula-shaped teeth that seem to have been well designed to chew coarse plant material. This is one feature that makes it different from the members of the Diplodocidae family, which had peg shaped teeth, to which it has been thought to belong. It is now being thought of as possibly part of a group of sauropods unique to Asia. Most of the big Asian sauropods, such as Omeisaurus, had spatulate teeth. In fact, the Asian sauropods, including Mamenchisaurus, seem to share more characteristics with Brachiosaurus than with Diplodocus. For evidence of this, one needs to look no further than the nose - Mamenchisaurus and other Asian sauropods are very close in evolutionary terms to that of Brachiosaurus. It is also thought that another aspect that these creatures had in common was that they were finding their food high off the ground. Diplodocus and Apatosaurus on the other hand were likely feeding on low growing plants.[1]
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Wikipedia has a more detailed and comprehensive article on Mamenchisaurus |
Story
Creation
Mamenchisaurus was created by InGen scientists[2] in their compound[3] on Isla Sorna where they were taken care of by the workers there. These clones had erect necks.[2]
It was not planned for InGen's Jurassic Park on Isla Nublar.[4]
In the wild
After Hurricane Clarissa struck the island, Mamenchisaurus became wild like most of the dinosaurs on Isla Sorna, having either been freed by the workers before they evacuated or they escaped on their own. To counter the Lysine contingency, Mamenchisaurs ate lysine rich plants. These sauropods were only known to live in Isla Sorna's south.[2]
Isla Sorna Incident (1997)
Mamenchisaurus
While the InGen Hunters captured the island's wild dinosaurs, two Mamenchisaurs walked out of the forest into the open field. Peter Ludlow was amazed by the enormous size of the animals. One of the Hunters drove between a Mamenchisaurus' legs with a motorbike.[2]
It is unknown if Peter Ludlow captured a Mamenchisaurus for his Jurassic Park in San Diego. The chances are unlikely, however, due to their large size.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (arcade game)
Mamenchisaurus is featured in the arcade game The Lost World: Jurassic Park arcade game. In appears in Stage 2 in the Site B Scrub. There is a herd of dinosaurs and you need to drive through without being trampled. First, it will lift its foot and you need to shoot certain spots so it doesn't crush you. You do it again and then the same with the tail, twice. That Mamenchisaurus walks away and there is another one defecating. In order to pass, you need to shoot its dung. If you don't, it'll fling its feces directly at you. The screen will be covered in fecal matter, you will lose a life and the screen will say 'Failed'. The car swerves into a pit of mud or dung and you will need to fight off raptors.
Jurassic Park III: Park Builder
Mamenchisaurus is nr. 058 of the Herbivore Threes that can be created in Jurassic Park III: Park Builder.
Behind the scenes
Stan Winston Studio concept art.
In the script for The Lost World: Jurassic Park, there was to be a scene after Dr. Sarah Harding escapes the angered Stegosaurus where her and her group saw two Mamenchisaurus mating. Mamenchisaurs were also absent from the Game Trail in the script, with Apatosaurus taking its place.
In the exhibition The Dinosaurs of The Lost World and Jurassic Park the first full-scale Mamenchisaurus was shown.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jurassic Park Institute, Dinopedia/Mamenchisaurus. Link
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Lost World: Jurassic Park
- ↑ Jurassic Park III
- ↑ Stegosaurus does not appear in any version of the Jurassic Park brochure, nor in the InGen Field Journal, InGen Field Guide and Tour the Island website.
 The Lost World: Jurassic Park Prehistoric Creatures
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| Compsognathus • Gallimimus • Mamenchisaurus • Pachycephalosaurus • Parasaurolophus • Pteranodon • Stegosaurus • Triceratops • Tyrannosaurus rex • Velociraptor |