波(bo)塞(sai)(sai)(sai)東(dong)龍(long)(long)可能是已知的最(zui)高(gao)(gao)的恐龍(long)(long)。在美(mei)國俄克拉荷馬(ma)州【oklahoma, usa】發現。波(bo)塞(sai)(sai)(sai)東(dong)龍(long)(long)是一(yi)種(zhong)類似于腕龍(long)(long)的恐龍(long)(long),但更大(da)。波(bo)塞(sai)(sai)(sai)東(dong)龍(long)(long)大(da)約(yue)有30米(mi)(mi)(mi)長,但可能高(gao)(gao)達(da)18米(mi)(mi)(mi),比(bi)最(zui)大(da)的腕龍(long)(long)還(huan)高(gao)(gao)4-5米(mi)(mi)(mi),體重達(da)50-60噸。波(bo)塞(sai)(sai)(sai)東(dong)龍(long)(long)的脖子可能比(bi)馬(ma)門(men)溪龍(long)(long)的還(huan)長,達(da)到12米(mi)(mi)(mi)左(zuo)右。他的一(yi)截頸椎就有1.5米(mi)(mi)(mi)長。
波塞(sai)東(dong)(dong)龍(long)(long)的(de)(de)(de)化(hua)石包(bao)含:四個(ge)(ge)天然狀(zhuang)(zhuang)態(tai)的(de)(de)(de)頸(jing)(jing)椎(zhui)(中(zhong)間第(di)五到第(di)八個(ge)(ge))、以及(ji)頸(jing)(jing)部肋骨(gu)。波塞(sai)東(dong)(dong)龍(long)(long)的(de)(de)(de)脊椎(zhui)骨(gu)非常地長(chang),最大的(de)(de)(de)一個(ge)(ge)脊椎(zhui)骨(gu)長(chang)度約1.4米(mi),是紀錄中(zhong)最長(chang)的(de)(de)(de)。對于這些(xie)骨(gu)頭的(de)(de)(de)檢(jian)驗,顯示出它們是由蜂窩狀(zhuang)(zhuang)骨(gu)細(xi)胞(bao)所構成,而(er)且(qie)(qie)骨(gu)細(xi)胞(bao)非常細(xi),類似(si)雞(ji)或鴕鳥(niao)的(de)(de)(de)骨(gu)細(xi)胞(bao),使(shi)得波塞(sai)東(dong)(dong)龍(long)(long)的(de)(de)(de)頸(jing)(jing)部較輕,且(qie)(qie)較容易舉起。波塞(sai)東(dong)(dong)龍(long)(long)的(de)(de)(de)頸(jing)(jing)部肋骨(gu)極長(chang),第(di)六(liu)節頸(jing)(jing)肋的(de)(de)(de)長(chang)度為3.42米(mi),比長(chang)頸(jing)(jing)巨龍(long)(long)的(de)(de)(de)最長(chang)頸(jing)(jing)肋長(chang)18%,也(ye)超越(yue)馬門溪龍(long)(long)的(de)(de)(de)頸(jing)(jing)肋。
波塞(sai)東龍(long)的(de)(de)體型估計(ji),是(shi)(shi)根據(ju)(ju)波塞(sai)東龍(long)的(de)(de)四個頸(jing)椎(zhui),與(yu)柏(bo)林(lin)亨波特博物館的(de)(de)長(chang)頸(jing)巨龍(long)標本(ben)(編號HM SII)比(bi)較(jiao)得來的(de)(de)數(shu)據(ju)(ju)。編號HM SII標本(ben)是(shi)(shi)已知最完整的(de)(de)腕龍(long)類化(hua)石,但(dan)該(gai)標本(ben)被(bei)認為(wei)由(you)不(bu)同(tong)個體化(hua)石拼湊(cou)而(er)成,因此數(shu)據(ju)(ju)可(ke)能不(bu)完全正確。波塞(sai)東龍(long)與(yu)其他腕龍(long)科(ke)近親的(de)(de)比(bi)較(jiao)是(shi)(shi)困難的(de)(de),因為(wei)有限的(de)(de)化(hua)石紀錄。
波塞東龍的(de)(de)的(de)(de)頸部(bu)長(chang)(chang)度被估計為(wei)(wei)11.25到12米(mi),而編號(hao)HM SII的(de)(de)腕龍標(biao)本頸部(bu)長(chang)(chang)度為(wei)(wei)9米(mi)。這(zhe)個數據是假設波塞東龍的(de)(de)頸部(bu)其它部(bu)分比例與(yu)長(chang)(chang)頸巨龍頸部(bu)比例是一樣(yang)的(de)(de),這(zhe)是個非常合理(li)的(de)(de)假設方式。
波(bo)(bo)塞東龍(long)(long)(long)可(ke)能可(ke)以將(jiang)頭部(bu)(bu)(bu)高舉過地面達17米,大約(yue)是六層(ceng)樓高。腕龍(long)(long)(long)科恐(kong)龍(long)(long)(long)的長(chang)(chang)頸(jing)(jing)部(bu)(bu)(bu)與高肩膀,使(shi)得它們(men)是已知最高的一(yi)群恐(kong)龍(long)(long)(long)。在某(mou)些層(ceng)面,波(bo)(bo)塞東龍(long)(long)(long)的體格類(lei)似(si)現(xian)代長(chang)(chang)頸(jing)(jing)鹿,它們(men)同(tong)樣擁有短(duan)身體與長(chang)(chang)頸(jing)(jing)部(bu)(bu)(bu)。相(xiang)較而言,長(chang)(chang)頸(jing)(jing)巨龍(long)(long)(long)可(ke)將(jiang)頭部(bu)(bu)(bu)高舉到離地面13.5米。波(bo)(bo)塞東龍(long)(long)(long)的肩膀可(ke)能有6或7米高,而身長(chang)(chang)被估計約(yue)為30米或是34米長(chang)(chang)。
波(bo)塞(sai)東(dong)龍(long)(long)(long)的(de)(de)體重(zhong)被估(gu)(gu)計(ji)為(wei)50到(dao)60公噸之間(jian)。波(bo)塞(sai)東(dong)龍(long)(long)(long)的(de)(de)脊椎(zhui)骨比(bi)長(chang)頸(jing)巨(ju)龍(long)(long)(long)的(de)(de)脊椎(zhui)骨還長(chang)約25%到(dao)33%,但直徑僅大(da)(da)了10%到(dao)15%。這些數據意味者(zhe)波(bo)塞(sai)東(dong)龍(long)(long)(long)的(de)(de)身體可能比(bi)長(chang)頸(jing)巨(ju)龍(long)(long)(long)還巨(ju)大(da)(da),但就比(bi)例而(er)言(yan)(yan)頸(jing)部(bu)較小(xiao)。長(chang)頸(jing)巨(ju)龍(long)(long)(long)的(de)(de)體重(zhong)為(wei)40到(dao)44公噸,這個數據是將(jiang)不(bu)同測量(liang)的(de)(de)結果平均得到(dao)的(de)(de)數據。然而(er),任何估(gu)(gu)計(ji)都是某(mou)些科學家的(de)(de)一家之言(yan)(yan),就已(yi)經發(fa)現的(de)(de)恐龍(long)(long)(long)木乃伊就較其骨骼判斷要(yao)大(da)(da)1/4來分析,基于4節頸(jing)骨的(de)(de)波(bo)塞(sai)東(dong)龍(long)(long)(long)的(de)(de)最大(da)(da)估(gu)(gu)計(ji)值為(wei)肩高(gao)8.5米,臀高(gao)6.75米,頭部(bu)可以達到(dao)18.3米高(gao),體重(zhong)在55噸以上或達到(dao)80噸。
然而,相較于(yu)長(chang)(chang)(chang)頸(jing)巨龍(long)(long)(long),波塞(sai)東龍(long)(long)(long)擁有相對細長(chang)(chang)(chang)的頸(jing)部(bu)。如果(guo)波塞(sai)東龍(long)(long)(long)的身體(ti)(ti)也(ye)是較為(wei)細長(chang)(chang)(chang),那(nei)之(zhi)前所估(gu)計的數據(ju)將會過高。舉例而言,體(ti)(ti)型較粗壯的迷(mi)惑龍(long)(long)(long),體(ti)(ti)重(zhong)比身體(ti)(ti)較長(chang)(chang)(chang)、但體(ti)(ti)型修(xiu)長(chang)(chang)(chang)的梁龍(long)(long)(long)還重(zhong)。此外,波塞(sai)東龍(long)(long)(long)可能(neng)擁有氣囊系統(tong)(tong),類(lei)似鳥類(lei),氣囊系統(tong)(tong)可減低蜥腳類(lei)恐龍(long)(long)(long)的體(ti)(ti)重(zhong)約(yue)20%以上。
波塞東龍(long)(long)(long)(long)可能是(shi)(shi)北(bei)美洲(zhou)最后(hou)的(de)(de)巨大蜥腳(jiao)類恐龍(long)(long)(long)(long)。蜥腳(jiao)類恐龍(long)(long)(long)(long)包含陸地上出現(xian)過最大的(de)(de)動物,是(shi)(shi)群分(fen)布廣泛(fan)且(qie)成(cheng)功的(de)(de)演化支。它們首次(ci)出現(xian)于早(zao)侏(zhu)羅(luo)紀(ji),并且(qie)很(hen)快地散布到(dao)(dao)全(quan)世界(jie)。到(dao)(dao)了晚(wan)(wan)(wan)侏(zhu)羅(luo)紀(ji),梁龍(long)(long)(long)(long)科與腕龍(long)(long)(long)(long)科恐龍(long)(long)(long)(long)在(zai)北(bei)美洲(zhou)與非洲(zhou)等地占優(you)勢,到(dao)(dao)了晚(wan)(wan)(wan)白(bai)堊紀(ji),泰坦巨龍(long)(long)(long)(long)科廣泛(fan)分(fen)布于南半球。在(zai)晚(wan)(wan)(wan)侏(zhu)羅(luo)紀(ji)到(dao)(dao)晚(wan)(wan)(wan)白(bai)堊紀(ji)期間,蜥腳(jiao)類的(de)(de)化石紀(ji)錄很(hen)稀少。這段期間的(de)(de)北(bei)美洲(zhou)很(hen)少發(fa)現(xian)標本,所發(fa)現(xian)的(de)(de)標本也(ye)通常是(shi)(shi)破碎骨(gu)頭,或是(shi)(shi)幼年個體。而白(bai)堊紀(ji)存活的(de)(de)蜥腳(jiao)類恐龍(long)(long)(long)(long)在(zai)體型上縮減(身長減到(dao)(dao)15米左右,而體重(zhong)為10到(dao)(dao)15公噸),因此(ci)波塞東龍(long)(long)(long)(long)的(de)(de)發(fa)現(xian)相當(dang)不尋常。
波(bo)(bo)塞(sai)(sai)東(dong)龍生存(cun)于(yu)墨(mo)(mo)西(xi)(xi)哥(ge)灣的海(hai)岸,墨(mo)(mo)西(xi)(xi)哥(ge)灣的海(hai)岸在(zai)當時侵入到奧克拉荷馬(ma)州一帶,形(xing)成(cheng)巨大的三(san)角(jiao)洲,類(lei)似今日(ri)的密西(xi)(xi)西(xi)(xi)比河三(san)角(jiao)洲。這(zhe)個地區(qu)在(zai)當時可能沒有掠食動(dong)物可以(yi)攻擊(ji)完全成(cheng)長的波(bo)(bo)塞(sai)(sai)東(dong)龍個體,但肉食龍下目的高棘龍(體型(xing)較小(xiao)于(yu)暴龍)與以(yi)群體行動(dong)的恐爪龍可能以(yi)幼年波(bo)(bo)塞(sai)(sai)東(dong)龍個體為獵(lie)物。
在(zai)2004年,德恩·奈許(Darren Naish)與他(ta)的(de)同事敘述(shu)了(le)一只巨大(da)腕(wan)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)科(ke)(ke)恐(kong)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),該(gai)恐(kong)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)發現(xian)于早(zao)白堊紀的(de)英格蘭,并類似(si)于波塞東龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)。該(gai)腕(wan)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)科(ke)(ke)恐(kong)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)僅發現(xian)兩個頸椎,在(zai)某些細節(jie)明顯(xian)地(di)類似(si)波塞東龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),而它們可能在(zai)體型上相似(si)。該(gai)腕(wan)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)科(ke)(ke)恐(kong)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)的(de)發現(xian)突(tu)顯(xian)了(le)早(zao)白堊紀時(shi)期北美洲與歐洲恐(kong)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)的(de)相似(si)。