Largest dinosaur ever discovered in Argentina

Palaeontologists in Argentina say they have unearthed fossils belonging to the largest creature to ever walk this planet. This titanosaur, an exceptionally large herbivore, dates back to the late Cretaceous period.

Estimates say the find was 40m (130ft) long, 20m (65ft) tall and weighed 77 tonnes. To put this into perspective a T-Rex weighed “only” 7 tonnes. These statistics have been estimated by measuring the length and circumference of the largest femur. This genus of dinosaurs, described as ‘sauropod dinosaurs’, are characterised by their long necks and tails and small heads.

“Given the size of these bones, which surpass any of the previously known giant animals, the new dinosaur is the largest animal known that walked on Earth,” researchers Dr. Jose Luis Carballido and Dr. Diego Pol told the BBC.

This striking discovery was found by farm workers in desert near La Flecha, Patagonia. The new discovery lived in what would then have been forests approximately 95 to 100 million years ago. The creature is yet to be named but “It will be named describing its magnificence and in honour to both the region and the farm owners who alerted us about the discovery”, the scientists said.

Drs Pol and Carballido found a further seven partial skeletons, to give a combined total of 150 bones, all in “remarkable condition”. Given their close proximity to carnivorous species, it is thought that the creatures died due to drought or they got stuck in the mud.

The previous contender for the title world’s biggest dinosaur was Argentinosaurus, which was also discovered in Patagonia. The Argentinosaurus was initially thought to have weighed 100 tonnes but this was later revised to 70 tonnes; this new find will now take the crown, if confirmed.

“Without knowing more about this current find it’s difficult to be sure. One problem with assessing the weight of both Argentinosaurus and this new discovery is that they’re both based on very fragmentary specimens – no complete skeleton is known, which means the animal’s proportions and overall shape are conjectural.”

This was the second major titanosaur find in 2014. In January, a team of Pennsylvania scientists uncovered fossils belonging to the Yongjinglong datangi, in China. Both discoveries are highly important as they could enable scientists to further discover how these magnificent creatures evolved.