Astrophocaudia

The name Astrophocaudia has a double meaning: 'non-twisting tail' because the tail bones were tightly connected, and 'star tail' because the tail bones look like a three-pointed star from behind.1

Scientists are not sure how big Astrophocaudia was. One study said it was about 10.9 metres (36 feet) long and weighed 2.85 tonnes (6,300 pounds), but another said 18.3 metres (60 feet) long and 20 tonnes (44,000 pounds).1

Most of the bones from one single Astrophocaudia were found together, including 24 tail bones, parts of the neck and back, ribs, a shoulder blade, and a hip bone.1

Astrophocaudia's fossils were first discovered in the 1960s by paleontologist Robert Slaughter, but they were not fully studied until the 2010s.1

The species name slaughteri honors Robert Slaughter, who dug up the bones.1

Astrophocaudia is a somphospondylan sauropod, meaning it was more closely related to titanosaurs than to brachiosaurs.13