Description and Classification

Datousaurus was a moderately large sauropod, reaching estimated lengths of about 14 to 15 meters (46 to 49 feet) and weighing around 10 to 15 metric tons (11 to 16.5 short tons). Like other sauropods, it had a bulky body, a long neck for reaching vegetation, a long tail that likely acted as a counterbalance, and four strong, pillar-like legs to support its weight. One of its notable features was its skull, which was deeper and more robust compared to many other sauropods, and it possessed spoon-shaped teeth well-suited for stripping leaves from branches.

Datousaurus belongs to the group Sauropoda, which includes some of the largest animals ever to walk the Earth. It is considered a basal (early) member of the Eusauropoda, a major sauropod subgroup. It is often found in the same fossil formations as other Chinese sauropods like Shunosaurus and Omeisaurus, and may be closely related to them, possibly within the family Mamenchisauridae or a closely related lineage. Its fossils help scientists understand the early evolution and diversification of these long-necked giants.

Distinguishing Features

• A relatively deep and robust skull for a sauropod, which is uncommon as sauropod skulls are often delicate and rarely preserved.
• Spoon-shaped teeth, characteristic of many herbivorous sauropods, designed for stripping foliage.
• A moderately long neck, which allowed it to browse on vegetation at different heights.
• It was a quadrupedal herbivore from the rich Middle Jurassic fossil beds of the Dashanpu Formation in China.

Paleoenvironment and Diet

Datousaurus lived in a warm, humid environment in what is now Sichuan, China, during the Middle Jurassic. This region, represented by the Lower Shaximiao Formation (part of the Dashanpu Formation), was lush with diverse plant life, including ferns, cycads, and conifers, which would have formed the primary food source for Datousaurus. It shared this ecosystem with a variety of other dinosaurs. These included other sauropods like the shorter-necked Shunosaurus and the very long-necked Omeisaurus, predatory theropods such as Gasosaurus and Yangchuanosaurus, and the stegosaurian dinosaur Huayangosaurus.

As a herbivore, Datousaurus would have consumed large quantities of plant material daily. Its long neck allowed it to feed on leaves and shoots from trees and tall shrubs, possibly at heights that smaller herbivores could not reach. The spoon-shaped teeth were efficient for raking or stripping vegetation, which was likely swallowed with little chewing. Like many other sauropods, Datousaurus might have ingested gastroliths (stomach stones) to help grind up tough plant matter in its digestive system.

Significance and Ongoing Research

The discovery of Datousaurus is significant because it provides valuable information about sauropod diversity during the Middle Jurassic, a crucial period in their evolutionary history before the appearance of the truly colossal sauropods of the Late Jurassic. The relatively complete fossil material, including skull elements, is particularly important as sauropod skulls are rare finds. Datousaurus helps paleontologists piece together the family tree of sauropods and understand how different groups, like those found in China, evolved.

Ongoing research involving Datousaurus often focuses on refining its exact placement within the sauropod evolutionary tree, especially its relationship to other Asian sauropods like Mamenchisaurus and Omeisaurus. Scientists also study its anatomy to better understand its movement, feeding behaviors, and how it interacted with its environment and other dinosaurs in the rich Dashanpu ecosystem. Comparing Datousaurus with other early sauropods from around the world helps paint a clearer picture of how these incredible animals became so successful and diverse.