Drag to rotate the Ampelosaurus, scroll or pinch to zoom, and click a body part - the neck, a pillar leg, or the tail - to read what fossils tell us about it. The panel beside the model carries the real figures.
Ampelosaurus - the "vineyard lizard" - was a Late Cretaceous French titanosaur with osteoderm armor; turn on the human figure to see how a person compares to its body.
The colors and skin here are an artistic reconstruction; fossils preserve bone, not soft tissue or color. This model is not a fossil-accurate skeleton. The measurements in the panel follow published estimates, with ranges shown where sources disagree.
Ampelosaurus 3D Viewer
This page renders an Ampelosaurus as a 3D model you can spin in the browser - drag to rotate, scroll or pinch to zoom, toggle a 1.8 m person beside it for scale, and click the neck, the body, or a leg to read a fact about that part.
Ampelosaurus lived in the Late Cretaceous, about 71 to 66 million years ago, in what is now southern France (Marnes Rouges Inferieures Formation). It was a titanosaurian sauropod with osteoderm armor in the skin - uncommon among the giant long-necks. Length estimates are about 14-16 m (a 2022 study puts the largest measured individual near 13.9 m) and mass about 8-10 tonnes. Named by Le Loeuff in 1995.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Length | about 14-16 m (about 13.9 m for the largest measured individual in Vila et al. 2022) |
| Standing height | about 4-5 m at the hips for a large adult (proportionate estimate) |
| Weight | about 8-10 tonnes |
| When it lived | about 71-66 million years ago (Late Cretaceous, early Maastrichtian) |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Everything runs on your device with WebGL - no account, nothing sent to a server. Soft-tissue color is an artistic reconstruction; this model is not a fossil-accurate skeleton. Figures above are published values with ranges where sources disagree. Compared with the taller-shouldered Brachiosaurus 3D Viewer and the whip-tailed Diplodocus 3D Viewer, Ampelosaurus reads as a stockier European titanosaur with body armor rather than extreme neck length.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big was Ampelosaurus?
Published length estimates are about 14-16 m, with a 2022 study putting the largest measured individual near 13.9 m. Mass is about 8-10 tonnes. Turn on the human figure to see the scale against a 1.8 m person.
Did Ampelosaurus have armor?
Yes. Fossils include osteoderms about 25-28 cm long in plate, bulb, and spine shapes. That body armor is one reason Ampelosaurus stands out among European titanosaurs.
When and where did Ampelosaurus live?
In the Late Cretaceous (early Maastrichtian), about 71-66 million years ago, in what is now southern France - especially the Marnes Rouges Inferieures Formation near Campagne-sur-Aude. Le Loeuff named A. atacis in 1995.
What does the name mean?
Ampelosaurus means "vineyard lizard," after the Blanquette de Limoux vineyard country where the fossils were found. The species name atacis refers to the Aude River (Latin Atax).
Is the model scientifically accurate?
The proportions follow published figures, but the skin color and soft-tissue outline are an artistic reconstruction - fossils preserve bone, not soft tissue or color. This model is not a fossil-accurate skeleton. Length, weight, and age figures are real published values, with ranges cited because sources vary.
Do I need to install anything to view it?
No. The model renders in your browser with WebGL - no app, no account, and nothing about your visit is sent to a server. The 3D engine loads once and is then cached. When available, a free-licensed glTF model may swap in after first paint.