Diplodocinae

Diplodocinae is a subfamily within the Diplodocidae, a family of long-necked sauropod dinosaurs in the clade Sauropoda. The group is named for its type genus, Diplodocus, and is characterized in many classifications by a set of very long, slender proportions compared with other sauropods.

Fossil evidence for Diplodocinae comes from the Late Jurassic, with remains found in North America and Africa. Members of this subfamily were among the longest land animals of their time, and they include some of the best known diplodocids, such as Diplodocus and Barosaurus, with other related genera sometimes variably assigned to Diplodocinae depending on the phylogenetic analysis.

Anatomically, diplodocines typically show extremely long necks and tails, light skulls, and relatively long forelimbs. Their teeth are generally small and peg-like, adapted for a low-briction, scraping or plucking habit rather than heavy chewing. The overall body plan suggests a herbivorous lifestyle focused on high- to mid-level vegetation, with a sprawling yet powerful build suited to supporting enormous trunks and long spines.

Taxonomic placement within Diplodocidae has been the subject of ongoing revision. Some analyses place diverse long-necked genera in Diplodocinae, while others revise memberships or split Diplodocidae into additional subgroups. Consequently, the exact composition of Diplodocinae can vary among sources, and new phylogenetic work continues to refine the group's boundaries.

Notable members commonly cited in discussions of Diplodocinae include Diplodocus, Barosaurus, and Galeamopus, among others, illustrating the subfamily’s role in shaping our understanding of large-bodied sauropod diversity during the Late Jurassic.