Diplodocus vs. Brontosaurus — What's the Difference?

A large herbivorous dinosaur with a long neck and tail.

A genus of the sauropod family, formerly confused with Apatosaurus.

A dinosaur that walked on four sturdy legs and lived in herds.

A dinosaur characterized by its pillar-like legs and long tail.

A genus within the family Diplodocidae.

A massive herbivorous dinosaur with a robust body and long neck.

A dinosaur known for its whip-like tail and elongated neck.

An iconic representative of the Late Jurassic period.

An extinct sauropod that was among the longest land animals.

Brontosaurus (; meaning "thunder lizard" from Greek βροντή, brontē "thunder" and σαῦρος, sauros "lizard") is a genus of gigantic quadruped sauropod dinosaurs. Although the type species, B. excelsus, had long been considered a species of the closely related Apatosaurus, researchers proposed in 2015 that Brontosaurus is a genus separate from Apatosaurus and that it contains three species: B. excelsus, B. yahnahpin, and B. parvus.Brontosaurus had a long, thin neck and a small head adapted for a herbivorous lifestyle, a bulky, heavy torso, and a long, whip-like tail.

Diplodocus (, , or ) is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaurs, whose fossils were first discovered in 1877 by S. W. Williston. The generic name, coined by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1878, is a neo-Latin term derived from Greek διπλός (diplos) "double" and δοκός (dokos) "beam", in reference to the double-beamed chevron bones located in the underside of the tail, which were then considered unique.

An apatosaurus.

A very large herbivorous sauropod dinosaur of the genus Diplodocus of the Jurassic Period, having a long neck and tail and a small head, and hind legs longer than the front legs.

One of the largest land animals to ever walk the earth; a Brontosaurus.

Any of several herbivorous sauropod dinosaurs, of the genus Diplodocus, known as fossils from the late Jurassic in North America.

A genus of large sauropod American dinosaurs of the jurassic era, or an individual of that genus. A length of sixty feet is believed to have been attained by these reptiles. The genus is also called Apatosaurus, and individuals of the genus are also called brontosaurs.

Huge quadrupedal herbivore with long neck and tail; of late Jurassic in western North America

Huge quadrupedal herbivorous dinosaur common in North America in the late Jurassic

A sauropod with a distinctive elongated neck and small head.

Initial misclassifications in the late 19th century led to the mix-up, but further studies in the 21st century resolved the confusion.

Diplodocus is a genus of herbivorous dinosaurs known for its long neck and tail, which lived during the Late Jurassic period.

While both are sauropods, the Diplodocus has a longer neck and tail, whereas the Brontosaurus has a more massive body and a relatively shorter neck.

Diplodocus was herbivorous, feeding primarily on ferns, conifers, and other prehistoric plants.

Fossil evidence and scientific research have provided insights into the lives of the Diplodocus and Brontosaurus.

The Diplodocus is typically longer due to its extended neck and tail.

Yes, both lived during the Late Jurassic period, although there might be slight differences in their exact timelines.

Yes, after years of debate, the Brontosaurus was reinstated as a distinct genus from Apatosaurus.

No, they were once thought to be the same, but they're now recognized as distinct genera.

Yes, Diplodocus walked on all four legs.

The Diplodocus had a particularly long, whip-like tail, which might have been used for defense or communication.

While they are among the largest, other sauropods like Argentinosaurus might have been even larger.

Yes, several well-preserved specimens are showcased in museums around the world.

Several species have been described, but the most famous is Diplodocus longus.

Both were herbivores and would have been prey for large carnivorous dinosaurs of their time.