Plateosaurus

The European Plateosaurus genus consists of two species: P. Engelhardti & P. Gracilis. Plateosaurus was a prosauropod, a group of dinosaurs that were related to the larger & later sauropods, whose main claim to fame was that some of its members were omnivorous. Plateosaurus was among the most common of Europe's dinosaurs, being found in 50 seperate formations. Plateosaurus' tail made up half its total body length, the animal being 8 metres or 27 feet long. This made it the largest of prosauropods. It had a thick head, & belonged to the more advanced group of completely herbivorous prosauropods. A claw on its thumb may have helped it to grasp trees to pull itself up on to to feed on leaves, & which may have been used in self-defence against predators like Lillinesternus & Halticosaurus. Plateosaurus, being a large, herbivorous dinosaur, probably travelled in herds, protecting their young by keeping them in the centre of the herd. Plateosaurus is a more familiar dinosaur, & a well-known one. When presented with an artist's reconstruction of the Triassic, one will usually find a picture of a Plateosaurus & a predator in battle.

Stephen Frost.