As the climate and vegetation on Madagascar changed little over the 145 million years since it became isolated in the Middle Jurassic to Late Cretaceous, the animals that ate the vegetation did not need to change either. The large sauropod dinosaurs have remained practically unaltered over that period of time. The largest is the Madagascan titanosaur that reaches a length of about 18 meters (60 feet) and can reach up to heights of 6 meters (20 feet) to browse from the tops of trees. The body is heavy and supported on stout pillar-like legs. The vertebrae of the neck, body and tail are partially hollowed out to cut down on the weight. The tail is usually carried clear of the ground and ends in a whiplash with which it can defend itself against enemies, such as the megalosaurs. Titanosaurs u
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