A 98-million-year-old dinosaur fossil unearthed in Argentina may have been the largest animal to ever walk the Earth, the study says
- Fossil remains, including tails and pelvic bones, were discovered in 2012
- The giant sauropod titanosaur dinosaur would have had a long neck and tail
- It was conserved in a muddy floodplain than today it is the province of Neuquén
- Researchers believe the remains could belong to a new species of sauropod
- They believe it was larger than the Patagotitan, which grew to 121 feet long
The fossilized bones of a dinosaur unearthed in Argentina that would have trodden the earth 98 million years ago may have been the largest terrestrial animal in history.
Local paleontologists found the remains (which include 24 vertebrae of the creatures’ tails and some adjacent pelvic bones) in the province of Neuquén in 2012.
It is believed to be a titanosaur, one of the largest sauropods, a dinosaur clade characterized by its large size, pillar-like legs, and elongated necks and tails.
Although the team has not been able to confirm it as a new species so far, the fossils do not appear to match other remains of known sauropod dinosaurs.
The finding may help experts better understand how giant sauropod dinosaurs evolved and lived millions of years ago.
Despite the new finding, the title of “largest animal in history” is still held by the blue whale, which is known to grow up to 33.6 meters in length.
The fossilized bones (pictured) of a dinosaur unearthed in Argentina that would have trodden the earth 98 million years ago may have been the largest land animal in history
“It is clear that the partially recovered titanosaur from the Candeleros Formation can be considered one of the largest titanosaurs,” the researchers wrote. Probably of a body mass comparable to that of the Patagonian [pictured, in a full sized model] or Argentinosaurus or even bigger ”
The fossilized remains were found in layers of rock that geologists refer to as the “Candlestick Formation”, and more specifically at a level that still represents the deposits of a muddy floodplain.
“It is clear that the partially recovered titanosaur from the Candeleros Formation can be considered one of the largest titanosaurs,” the researchers wrote.
“Probably of a body mass comparable to Patagotitan or Argentinosaurus or even larger,” they added.
The Patagotite, who was first unearthed in Argentina in 2013, is believed to have reached lengths of more than 37 meters and probably weighed about 55-57 tons.
Unlike other remains excavated in the formation, this specimen, which has been designated “MOZ-Pv 1221”, remained largely articulated, suggesting that more skeleton will probably be discovered at the same site as the l. ‘excavation.
In fact, the team reports that the bones of the limbs of the dinosaurs have been found, but have not yet been excavated.
Due to the partial nature of the finding so far, the researchers said it has not yet been possible to estimate how much MOZ-Pv 1221 would probably have weighed in life.
Unlike other remains excavated in the formation, this specimen, which has been designated “MOZ-Pv 1221”, remained largely articulated, suggesting that more of the skeleton will probably be discovered in the same place where it went. advance the excavation. In the image, the impression of an artist on 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 finding so far, the researchers said it has not yet been possible to estimate how much MOZ-Pv 1221 would probably have weighed in life. In the image, the impression of an artist on the silhouette of the specimen, which shows the bones discovered so far
According to researchers, the province of Neuquén would have been home to numerous species of sauropods 98 million years ago, each of which would have played a different role, or “niche,” in the ecosystem and food web.
“The specimen presented here strongly suggests the coexistence of larger, medium-sized titanosaurs with small-sized rebacisaurids in the early to late Cretaceous. […] indicating an alleged niche partition ’, they said.
The full findings of the study were published in the journal Cretaceous Research.
SAUROPPODS: LONG NECK AND SMALL BRAIN DINOSAURS
Sauropods were the first successful group of herbivorous dinosaurs, dominating most terrestrial ecosystems for more than 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 up to 40 meters and weighed up to 80 tons (14,000 times the weight of an African elephant).
Sauropods were the first successful group of herbivorous dinosaurs, dominating most terrestrial ecosystems for more than 140 million years, from the Late Triassic to the Late Cretaceous.
They were widespread: their remains have been found on all continents except Antarctica.
They had their nostrils at the top of their skulls, instead of being at the end of their snouts like those of so many other terrestrial vertebrates.
Some fossils show that these openings in the nostril were so high above the skull that they were very close to the openings in the eyes.
Sauropods such as the Diplodocus began to diversify in the Middle Jurassic about 180 million years ago.
Source: University of California Museum of Paleontology