Description of a Nearly Complete Juvenile Skull of Diplodocus (Sauropoda: Diplodocoidea) from the Late Jurassic of North America

摘要: ABSTRACT More than any other sauropod dinosaur group, the long-necked herbivores belonging to Diplodocoidea have been defined by their skulls. Their unique skull shape, which is extremely elongate antorbitally, with a transversely broad, square snout packed at its anterior extreme narrow-crowned, pencil-like teeth, has served as touchstone for describing biology of these animals ever since discovery first in late 19th century. In particular, unusual diplodocoid discussed frequently context examining feeding behavior, spawning hypotheses ranging from branch stripping, propalinal shearing, and aquatic plant ‘grazing.’ Here, we describe juvenile Diplodocus (Carnegie Museum 11255) that does not share unusually blunted anteriorly sequestered teeth seen adult specimens, suggesting adults juveniles may differed greatly an ontogenetic distinction be among sauropodomorphs.