Supersaurus — artistic reconstruction

Jurassic

Supersaurus

Supersaurus vivianae

The catalogue presents Supersaurus as a herbivore member of Diplodocidae that lived during the Jurassic, between 153 Ma. Its estimated range is 33.0 m in length and 35 t in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Colorado, USA. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.

Herbivore153 MaDiplodocidae

Evidence-backed summary

For Supersaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Jensen (1985).

The PBDB places it in Diplodocinae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Diplodocidae.

In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Kimmeridgian to the Tithonian.

The PBDB catalogues 4 occurrences, with material from the Morrison Formation (4). Provenance: United States.

The catalogue records the holotype as BYU 9025 and the type locality as “Colorado, USA”.

  • BYU 9025
  • Colorado, USA

The catalogue's reference measurements are 33.0 m in length and 35 t in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.

  • 33.0 m
  • 35 tons

The record gathers 30 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.

Records compiled on 2026-08-08

Where it lived

Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.

Present-day map4 PBDB
MorrisonMorrisonMorrisonMorrison
PBDB occurrences
Map at the time · ~150 Ma4 PBDB
MorrisonMorrisonMorrisonMorrison
PBDB occurrences
Present mean latitude39.6° N
Reconstructed mean latitude26.7° N

Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.

Paleobiology Database · GPlates · CC BY 4.0

Artistic 3D reconstruction

There is no approved species-specific 3D model yet. Generic anatomy will not be presented as if it were evidence.

Physical Specifications

Length
33.0 m
Weight
35 t
Period
Jurassic
Time range
153 Ma

Discovery Information

First Discovery
1985
Described by
Jim Jensen

Taxonomic Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Saurischia
Family
Diplodocidae
Genus
Supersaurus
Species
S. vivianae

Paleobiology Database · txn:56456

Data status

Taxonomic name matched to PBDB and checked on 2026-08-08.

Taxonomic linkage does not automatically validate size, mass, behaviour or appearance.

Type specimen
BYU 9025
Type locality
Colorado, USA