Volkheimeria

Volkheimeria lived during the Early Jurassic, about 179 to 178 million years ago, at a time when many other early sauropods were also appearing.1

The only known skeleton is a partial one, including parts of the backbone, hip bones, a thigh bone, and a shin bone.1

Its thigh bone is 63 cm long, which gives scientists a clue about its size.2

Volkheimeria had air sacs in its neck vertebrae, making its skeleton lighter, but not in its back vertebrae.1

Its tail was probably short because the tail bones are short from front to back.1

Scientists are not sure exactly where Volkheimeria fits in the sauropod family tree. Some think it is a very early sauropod, not yet a eusauropod.1