World’s ‘largest dinosaur’ unearthed in Argentina
A new dinosaur, weighing the same as 14 elephants, is discovered in Argentina with scientists claiming it may be “the largest to ever walk the Earth”.
Above: an excavated dinosaur femur. Photo credit: MEF
Scientists from the Museo Paleontologico Egidio Feruglio (MEF) have been excavating the fossil remains of seven enormous herbivore dinosaurs found at the site in Chubut Province, in Argentinian Patagonia.
Initial analysis suggests that the new species had a length of 130 feet and a weight of around 80 tonnes – making it the largest known dinosaur.
“It’s like two trucks with a trailer each, one in front of the other, and the weight of 14 elephants together”, said José Luis Carballido of MEF said.
The dinosaur is a sauropod, the same family as a diplodocus, and belongs to a particularly large group known as titanosaurs.
Patagonia dinosaur= ...
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A ranch worker discovered the site, and the owners of the ranch allowed the scientists to carry out their work.
Excavators have found the seven skeletons as well as over sixty teeth from carnivorous dinosaurs.
It is thought likely that, during a drought, the large dinosaurs gathered at a drinking pool – and died either from dehydration or from getting stuck in the mud. The group of dinosaurs would have been a feast for carnivores.
Above: the excavation site. Photo credit: MEF
Such a find is unusual, MEF said, with a high number of dinosaurs together and bones intact.
“This is a real paleontological treasure”, Mr Carballido said. “There are plenty of remains and many were nearly intact, which is unusual. In fact, the fossils from other giant titanosaurs were few and fragmented”.
Around 20 per cent of the site has been excavated, and other finds have included a range plant remains – giving an insight into the way in which the landscape has changed.