The Deadly Tail of the Diplodocus
In The Deadly Tail of the Diplodocus, naturalist Steve Backshall explores how this massive creature used its tail as a powerful defense mechanism. Plus, watch a real-life test that demonstrates the incredible force of this tail whip! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Deadly Dinosaurs, a documentary series in which host Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the deadliest animals to have walked the Earth — dinosaurs — exploring features of several species and putting their abilities to the test to reveal the raw power of these creatures.
Steve Backshall discovers the deadliest animals that ever walked the earth, the dinosaurs. Learn more.
Lesson Express
Q: How does the size of Diplodocus compare with that of animals that are alive today?
A: It is believed that the dinosaur weighed 15 tons, three times the weight of an African elephant, and that its neck was twice the length of a giraffe’s.
Q: How was the body of Diplodocus a habitat?
A: Parasitic insects attached themselves and fed off of Diplodocus and in turn were eaten by pterosaurs.
Q: How did the tail of Diplodocus help the dinosaur?
A: With the size and weight of Diplodocus, its tail was extremely powerful and the whipping action could take down a predator.