Sauropodlike

Sauropodlike is an informal term used to describe animals, living or extinct, that share certain physical characteristics with the sauropods, a group of long-necked, herbivorous dinosaurs. These characteristics typically include a very long neck, a large body, and a long tail. The posture might also be quadrupedal, meaning the animal walks on four limbs. While sauropods are extinct dinosaurs, the term "sauropodlike" can be applied to other organisms that exhibit a similar body plan, even if they are not closely related.

For example, some extinct mammals from the Mesozoic Era have been described as sauropodlike due to their size and quadrupedal stance, although their necks and tails might not have been as proportionally long as those of true sauropods. In paleontology, the term is often used as a descriptive shorthand when a precise classification is difficult or when comparing convergent evolution. It highlights a superficial resemblance in overall body shape and lifestyle, particularly for large herbivores adapted to browsing. The term does not imply a direct evolutionary link to sauropods but rather a similarity in form and function that arose independently.