Camarasaurus Valley Colouring

A sturdy Camarasaurus stands proudly in a broad Jurassic valley, framed by tall ancient trees and clusters of palm-like cycads. Its calm pose lets children see the entire dinosaur, from its high, boxy head and powerful neck to its four pillar-shaped legs and tapering tail. Camarasaurus lived in western North America during the Late Jurassic Period, around 155 to 145 million years ago. Many fossils have been found in the Morrison Formation, a huge layer of rock that stretches across states such as Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. The name Camarasaurus means chambered lizard and refers to spaces inside some of its vertebrae. Adults were generally about 15 to 18 metres long, although size varied between species, and large individuals may have weighed well over 10 tonnes. Unlike very slender, whip-tailed sauropods, Camarasaurus had a deep body, a muscular neck, and a fairly short, blunt, box-shaped skull. Its strong teeth were shaped for cropping tough leaves and twigs. The large openings high on its skull are another feature palaeontologists use to recognise it. For colouring, begin with the great dinosaur. You might choose olive green, moss green, warm brown, slate grey, or a cheerful invented colour. Make the underside lighter and add a darker band along the back if you enjoy gentle patterns. Small spots, broad stripes, or a different colour around the face can make your Camarasaurus unique, but keep the open spaces clear enough for the bold outline to shine. Colour the cycads with deep green outer leaves and yellow-green new growth. The tall conifer trunks can be brown, reddish brown, or grey, with rich green needles. Use sandy beige for the valley floor, soft blue or lavender for the distant hills, and pale blue for the open sky. Try pressing lightly for distant scenery and more firmly for the dinosaur in front; this simple trick helps the animal look close and important. Finish the eye with a dark pupil and a tiny white sparkle. As you colour, imagine this gentle giant pausing between bites, listening for its herd among the trees.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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Make it an activity

Choose a favourite colour palette
Add a simple background
Display the finished artwork

Grown-up note: Please supervise printing and choose age-appropriate art materials.