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.
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.