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Apatosaurus, deceptive lizard in Greek, is a member of the Diplodocidae family of sauropod dinosaurs. It roamed the western United States during the late Jurassic period, roughly 156-145 million years ago. Apatosaurus, like all other sauropods, was a four-legged, plant-eating dinosaur with a long neck, clawed toes and a very small head. Its spatulate or peg-like teeth were ideal for raking leaves from plants. Its gizzard or specialized stomach was ideal for grinding unchewed food. Apatosaurus, like other Diplodocidae, had a long, thin, whip-like tail, which it likely a defense against predators. It had short, thick legs; its hind limbs were slightly longer than its forelimbs. This extinct reptile measured 75 feet (23 m) in length and weighed more than 25 tons (23 metric tons). Apatosaurus, once mistakenly called the Brontosaurus, is one of the best-known dinosaurs.