Book 5, Question 4
Reach for the Sky! Why Long Necks on Some Dinosaurs?
Long-necked dinosaurs, called sauropods, could stretch their necks to reach lots of leaves without moving their huge bodies much. Their neck bones had air spaces inside, which helped keep them lighter. Scientists still debate exactly how they held their necks, so it is a great mystery to think about!
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 5
More fun facts
- Long necks let sauropods reach leaves high in trees that few other dinosaurs could reach.
- Brachiosaurus grew over 80 feet long and weighed more than 28 tons, about as heavy as four African elephants.
- Scientists once thought Brachiosaurus lived in water, but water pressure would have made it impossible for it to breathe.
- Mamenchisaurus sinocanadorum may have had the longest neck of any dinosaur, about 50 feet long.
- The longest complete dinosaur neck ever found belongs to Xinjiangtitan and is 44 feet long.
Sources: National Geographic Kids, Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
Did long-necked dinosaurs live in lakes?
No. Scientists once thought so, but the water pressure would have made breathing impossible. They lived on land.