A scale diagram of the Sauroposeidon proteles holotype, OMNH 53062, showing the four known vertebrae and their approximate position in the neck.

• Sauroposeidon was described in 2000 as fragmentary, but very large brachiosaur. The holotype specimen (OMNH 53062) was four neck vertebrae (thought to represent the 5th to 8th neck vertebrae). The vertebrae are notable for being very long (the largest has a total length of 1.4 m). The complete neck has been estimated between 11.25–12 m. If Sauroposeidon could hold its neck vertically, it might have reached 17 or 18 m in height.^[1][2] A 2012 study assigned additional sauropod remains to Sauroposeidon, including material described initially as Paluxysaurus jonesi and other unnamed sauropod material from the Cloverly Formation, shared similarities with Sauroposeidon. The study also found them to be basal somphospondylans as opposed to brachiosaurs.^[3]

• The Sauroposeidon silhouette is based proportionally on a Paluxysaurus skeletal reconstruction by the author (Stephen O'Connor).^[4] The vertebrae are based on photographs and drawings in Wedel 2005 (Figure 9).^[1] Due to the incompleteness of the remains there is some uncertainty as to the exact proportions of 'Sauroposeidon'. ^[5]

• The humans are scaled to 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) and 160 cm (5 ft 3 in).

• Each grid segment represents 1 square meter.

References