Study claims that the 98-million-year-old dinosaur fossil excavated in Argentina was possibly the largest animal to ever walk the earth.
- The fossil remains – including tail and pelvic bones – were uncovered in 2012
- The giant dinosaur of the titanosaurus sauropod would have had a long neck and tail
- It is preserved in a muddy floodplain in what is now Neuquén Province
- Researchers believe the remains of a new sauropod species may belong
- They think it was larger than Patagotitan, which grew to about 121 feet long.
The petrified bones of a dinosaur excavated in Argentina, which would have trampled the earth 98 million years ago, were possibly the largest land animal ever.
Local paleontologists have found the remains – which include 24 vertebrae of the creature’s tail and some adjacent pelvic bones – in Neuquén province.
It is believed to be a titanosaurus, one of the largest sauropods – a clade dinosaurs characterized by their large size, pillar-like legs and elongated necks and tails.
Although the team has not yet been able to confirm it as a new species, the fossils do not appear to be similar to other known sauropod dinosaur remains.
The finding could help experts better understand how giant sauropod dinosaurs evolved and lived millions of years ago.
Despite the new find, the title of ‘largest animal ever’ is still held by the blue whale – which is known to grow as long as 110 feet (33.6 meters).
The petrified bones (photo) of a dinosaur excavated in Argentina that would have trampled the earth 98 million years ago were possibly the largest land animal ever
“It is clear that the titanosaurus partially recovered from the Candeleros formation can be considered one of the largest titanosaurs,” the researchers wrote. ‘Probably of a body mass comparable to Patagotitan [pictured, in a full sized model] or Argentinosaurus or even larger ‘
The petrified remains have been found in low rock that geologists call the ‘Candeleros Formation’ – and more specifically on a level that represents the deposits of a muddy floodplain.
“It is clear that the titanosaurus partially recovered from the Candeleros formation can be considered one of the largest titanosaurs,” the researchers wrote.
“They probably have a body mass comparable to Patagotitan or Argentinosaurus or even larger.”
Patagotitan – first excavated in Argentina in 2013 – is thought to reach more than 37 meters (37 meters) and weighs about 55-57 tons.
Unlike other remains excavated from the formation, this specimen – designated ‘MOZ-Pv 1221’ – has largely remained articulated, suggesting that more of the skeleton is likely to be unearthed at the same site as the excavations. has progressed.
Indeed, the team reports that the limbs of the dinosaurs have been found but have not yet been excavated.
Due to the partial nature of the find so far, the researchers said it was not yet possible to estimate how much MOZ-Pv 1221 would probably have weighed in life.
Unlike other remains excavated from the formation, this specimen – designated ‘MOZ-Pv 1221’ – remained largely articulated, suggesting that more of the skeleton was likely to be unearthed at the same site as the excavations. has progressed. Pictured is an artist’s impression of MOZ-Pv 1221 and – below it – two other sauropods from the same place, Limaysaurus (left) and Andesaurus (right)
Due to the partial nature of the find so far, the researchers said it was not yet possible to estimate how much MOZ-Pv 1221 would probably have weighed in life. In the photo an artist’s impression of the silhouette of the monster, which has so far exposed the legs
According to researchers, the province of Neuquén would have been home to numerous sauropod species 98 million years ago – each of which would play a different role, or ‘niche’, in the ecosystem and food web.
‘The specimen reported here strongly suggests that the largest and medium-sized titanosaurs co-existed with small rebbachisaurids at the beginning of the Late Cretaceous […] indicating alleged niche distribution, ‘they said.
The full findings of the study were published in the journal Cretaceous Research.
SAUROPODS: DINOSAURS WITH LONG NECK AND SMALL BRAIN
Sauropods were the first successful group of herbivorous dinosaurs to dominate most rural ecosystems for over 140 million years, from the Late Triassic to the Late Cretaceous.
They had long necks and tails and relatively small skulls and brains.
They stretched to 40 meters and weighed up to 80 tons (80,000 kg) – 14 times the weight of an African elephant.
Sauropods were the first successful group of herbivorous dinosaurs to dominate most rural ecosystems for over 140 million years, from the Late Triassic to the Late Cretaceous.
They were widespread – their remains were found on all continents except Antarctica.
They had nostrils high on their skulls – rather than being at the end of the snout like those of so many other rural vertebrates.
Some fossils show that these nostril openings were so far into the skull that there were very close to the eye openings.
Sauropods like the Diplodocus began to diversify in the Middle Jurassic about 180 million years ago.
Source: University of California Museum of Paleontology