Rendering of a Dreadnoughtus schrani in life. (Credit: Mark A. Klingler, Carnegie Museum of Natural History)
International scientists have found a new species of dinosaur in Argentina, named Dreadnoughtus, which may represent one of the most complete examples of gigantic titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs ever discovered. It lived in the southern continents over 66 million years ago, and was one of the biggest creatures ever to walk the Earth.
Dreadnoughtus was the most massive land animal whose size can be confidently calculated. It was 13 times the size of an elephant with a 37-foot-long neck, 30-foot tail, and weighed an estimated 65 tons. In life, Dreadnoughtus was an herbivore that likely spent much of its life eating massive quantities of plants to maintain its enormous body size.
Original research paper published in the journal Scientific Reports on September 4, 2014.
Names and affiliations of selected authors
Kenneth Lacovara, Drexel University, U.S.A.
