Paleontologists working in Argentina just discovered the fossilized remains of what could be the largest dinosaur to ever roam the Earth.
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| Photo Credit: Jose Luis Carballido |
Titanosaur fossils in Argentina
The experts dug up the aforementioned remains in the Candeleros Formation in Argentina’s Neuquén Province.
The scientists found 24 vertebrae taken from the tail and torso of the long-dead dinosaur. The creature is said to be a titanosaur, which is a diverse group of large dinosaurs belonging to the sauropod clade.
Sauropods are identifiable through their long necks and tails. They use their four limbs to walk and run. A famous example of a sauropod is the brachiosaurus, which was featured on the science fiction film franchise Jurassic Park.
Published findings on the Argentinian titanosaur
According to a published article on Cretaceous Research, the creature from the remains could be even bigger than the Patagotitan.
Notably, the Patagotitan reportedly measured 37.2 meters long. It is said to have lived around 100 million to 95 million years ago.
Paleontologists and other researchers will continue digging in the Candeleros Formation in the next few years. They expect to find more parts of the dinosaur’s skeletons in their future trips.
The universities of Rio Negro and Zaragoza in Argentina helped in conducting the research expedition. Museo de La Plata, Museo Egidio Feruglio, and The Zapala Museum were also credited for the discovery.
A treasure trove of dinosaur fossils
In the past decades, there were multiple instances of fossil discoveries in Argentina’s Patagonia region.
The Candeleros Formation is just one of many sites that yielded some of these discoveries, especially that of “multi-ton” titanosaurs. Paleontologists frequent the formation and its surrounding areas in the region due to its diverse fossil content.
More than a decade ago, for example, paleontologists also located dinosaur fossils from the nearby Huincui Formation. It was said to be from a carnivorous dinosaur group called carcharodontosaurids.
