Dinosaur of the Day: Camarasaurus!

Camarasaurs was essentially an Apatosaurus, but with a slightly different bone structure.  Also, they were slightly smaller, but please don’t mention that to a Camarasaurus, as they can be touchy.

This is what it sounds like when dinosaurs cry: Philip, a Camarasaurus, told a Jurassic tale of loss and disenchantment.  “People don’t understand what it’s like.  They really don’t.  You’d think, with the Apatosaurs so fixated on creating a unified sauropod front, you’d think there would be room for Camarasaurs.  But no.  No.  Nobody ever remembers poor Camarasaurus.  While the Apatosaurs rule, and the Brachiosaurs bask in glory, and the Diplodoci shine in the spotlight, and the Brontosaurs, those hideous, fraudulent impostors, rob what is rightfully ours, we are left alone, forlorn, feeling insignficant, like a disgusting, tiny mammal, crushed under a Tyrannosaurus’ foot.  Dear god.  Please…please go away.  I just can’t bear to speak of it.

Let’s pretend we’re Brontosauruses: “Well…if you insist.  If it will bring to light the plight of Camarasaurs the world over.  Then I shall speak.  It all began with the skull, of course.  You’ve heard the tale, I presume – you know, about how that so-called “brontosaurus” skeleton is actually an Apatosaurus skeleton augmented with bits and pieces of other skeletons?  Well, the skull once belonged to a Camarasaur.  That skull once belonged to my mother.  And now this idiot splinter group of Apatosaurs gallivants about, calling themselves “Brontosauruses,” stealing from our legacy, taking our place in the great cavalcade of long-necked sauropods!  I ask you:  do we not also have impressively long spines?  Do we not also have rather enormous feet, capable of crushing skulls?  Do we not also have that weird second brain-type thingy at the base of our spines like Stegosauruses do?  Do we not have weird hollow bones that are lighter than those of most sauropods, thus making stomping accross the plains far more effcient?  Why yes, we have all of those things.  Why then, do we not have a place among the Apatosaurs, the Diplodoci, the Brachiosaurs – WHY HAS NOBODY EVER HEARD OF US???

If I Was Your Fossil: “And do you know what makes it worse?  I will tell you.  The first human to discover a Camarasaur fossil didn’t even see fit to keep it.  Oramel W. Lucas, that sorry excuse for a paleontologist, up and sold it to the highest bidder.  As though those bones were a thing.  A toy to be bought and sold, and not the remains of a beautiful noble creature, a creature who should have been respected and revered, a creature with a mother and a father, and a name.  Her name was Sophie.  She was my first love.”

Dinosaurology:    On an unrelated note, why do all early paleontologists have really elaborate names?  Also, you should know about the enormously stupid Bone Wars.

It’s Camarasaurs!