Camarasauridae
| Camarasaurids Temporal range: Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, | |
|---|---|
| Skeleton of Camarasaurus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | †Sauropodomorpha |
| Clade: | †Sauropoda |
| Clade: | †Neosauropoda |
| Clade: | †Macronaria |
| Clade: | †Camarasauromorpha |
| Family: | †Camarasauridae Cope, 1877 |
| Type genus | |
| †Camarasaurus Cope, 1877 | |
| Genera | |
| Synonyms | |
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Camarasauridae is a family of sauropod dinosaurs. Among sauropods, camarasaurids are small to medium-sized, with relatively short necks. They are visually identifiable by a short skull with large nares, and broad, spatulate teeth filling a thick jaw. Based on cervical vertebrae and cervical rib biomechanics, camarasaurids most likely moved their necks in a vertical, rather than horizontal, sweeping motion, in contrast to most diplodocids.