Vulcanodon

dinosaur · sauropod · early jurassic

Earliest sauropod. For many years after its discovery in 1969, Vulcanodon was thought to be the very first sauropod dinosaur ever to exist, making it incredibly important for scientists studying how these massive creatures evolved.

Found in Zimbabwe. This dinosaur lived in southern Africa during the Early Jurassic period and was discovered in rocks called the Forest Sandstone, which tells us a lot about what that ancient landscape was like.

Primitive design. Vulcanodon is still considered one of the most primitive sauropods we know about, meaning it had features that were closer to their early ancestors than the giant long-necks that came later.

One species known. Scientists have only identified one species of Vulcanodon, called V. karibaensis, based on the fossils found in Zimbabwe so far.