Dino card No. 0720 of 2,027

Giraffatitan

Say it: jih-RAF-ih-tan

Name means: “titanic giraffe”1

Ate: PlantsLong-necksLate Jurassic to Early Cretaceous

Giraffatitan was a giant, long-necked plant-eater that lived in what is now Tanzania. It had a giraffe-like shape with very long front legs and a tall skull. This dinosaur could reach high into the trees to munch on leaves that other dinosaurs couldn't reach.1

Lived

162 to 143 million years ago3

Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous

Fossils found in

Tendaguru Formation, Lindi Region, Tanzania1 3

Food

Plants1 2

Length

23 to 26 m1 2

estimate based on a larger specimen (HMN XV2)

Weight

40 tonnes to 48 tonnes1

When did it live?

Triassic

Jurassic

Cretaceous

252 million years ago20114566, the asteroid

How big was it?

as long as 6 cars parked in a rowas long as 140 bananas end to endas heavy as 8 elephantsas heavy as 9600 watermelons

How big was Giraffatitan compared to YOU?

Just maths in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

cool stuff

Fun facts

Giraffatitan was first thought to be an African species of Brachiosaurus, but scientists now think it is a separate genus because of many differences in its bones.1

The name Giraffatitan means 'titanic giraffe' because its long neck and sloping body reminded scientists of a giraffe.1

Most size estimates come from a subadult skeleton called HMN SII, but a larger leg bone suggests some Giraffatitan grew even bigger, up to 26 metres long.1

Its nostrils were once thought to be on top of its head, like a snorkel, but modern studies show they were near the tip of the snout.1

Giraffatitan lived about 150 to 145 million years ago, during the Late Jurassic period, in a warm, seasonal climate with forests and coastal lagoons.1

It had a very long neck that could only move up and down a little, so it probably fed on treetop leaves without swinging its head sideways much.1

AI-made picture of Giraffatitan — An AI-made picture of how Giraffatitan might have looked, made by a computer from what scientists know. It is a guess: the real animal may have looked different, and nobody knows its true colours.

you asked

Most asked questions about Giraffatitan

?How big was Giraffatitan?

About 23 metres (75 feet) long and 12 metres (39 feet) tall. The largest individuals may have reached 26 metres (85 feet) and weighed up to 48 tonnes (53 tons).1 2

?What did Giraffatitan eat?

It was a plant-eater (herbivore) that ate leaves from the tops of trees. Its long neck and chisel-like teeth helped it reach and bite off foliage that other dinosaurs couldn't.1 2

?When did Giraffatitan live?

It lived during the Late Jurassic Period, about 154 to 142 million years ago.2

?Where was Giraffatitan found?

Its fossils were discovered in Tanzania, Africa, at a place called Tendaguru.1 2

?Was Giraffatitan bigger than T. rex?

Yes, much bigger. Giraffatitan was about 23 metres long and weighed up to 48 tonnes, while T. rex was only about 12 metres long and weighed around 8 tonnes.1

?Is Giraffatitan a dinosaur?

Yes, it is a dinosaur. It is a sauropod, a group of four-legged, long-necked plant-eating dinosaurs.1 2

?Why did Giraffatitan have a long neck?

Its long neck helped it reach high into trees to eat leaves that other dinosaurs could not reach. Its neck could only move up and down a little, so it probably fed on treetop leaves without swinging its head sideways much.1

?Could Giraffatitan swim?

No, scientists now think it was a fully land animal. Water pressure would have made it hard to breathe if it was submerged, and its feet were too narrow for swimming.1

Ask Rex about Giraffatitan

Rex only answers questions about this page. 3 questions a day.

Rex is an AI and can make mistakes. He runs on servers in the EU and questions are never saved. Never type your name or other personal things.

Myth buster

Myth: Some people think Giraffatitan spent most of its time in water to support its heavy body.

Truth: Scientists now believe it was fully land-living, because water pressure would have made breathing difficult and its feet were not good for swimming.1

For dino experts

Scientific name: Giraffatitan
Named by: (Paul 1988)3
Group: Long-necks
Family / clade: Brachiosauridae3
Classification: Sauropodomorpha > Sauropoda > Macronaria3
Age of the rocks: 162 to 143 million years (Oxfordian / Tithonian)3
Rock formations: Tendaguru3
Countries: Tanzania3
Fossil records: 42 in the Paleobiology Database3
Discovery: Giraffatitan was discovered in Tanzania by a German expedition led by Werner Janensch, who first named it Brachiosaurus brancai in 1914. It was later given its own genus name Giraffatitan by Gregory S. Paul in 1988.1
Still debated: Scientists still debate whether Giraffatitan should be a separate genus from Brachiosaurus or just a close relative.1

Where the facts come from

Giraffatitan (en.wikipedia.org)
Giraffatitan | Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)
Giraffatitan in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.

Every fact on this page has a number that points to its source. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are dino fans, not a science journal. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

Rex is hungry! Dino Wiki is a dad's project for his dino-loving son, free with no ads. Grown-ups can feed Rex a snack to help keep it online.Feed Rex