Quantcast
New Titanosaur species: Bones of the world’s biggest dinosaur unveiled – Metro US

New Titanosaur species: Bones of the world’s biggest dinosaur unveiled

The bones of the Titanosaur were discovered in Argentina. Photo: Getty The bones of the Titanosaur were discovered in Argentina. Photo: Getty

The remains of a new species of Titanosaur, a dinosaur believed to be the largest animal ever to walk the Earth, have been discovered in Argentina.

Gigantic fossilised bones of the previously unknown creature were unearthed by a farm worker in a desert about 135 miles west of the city of Trelew.

Experts believe the dinosaur is a new species of titanosaur, a giant herbivore, and estimated its length and height – 130-feet long and 65-feet tall -based on the size of its thigh bone.

The dinosaur would have lived in the forests of Patagonia between 95 and 100 million years ago, according to experts.

It reportedly weighed as much as 14 African elephants, and would have been as tall as a “seven-story building when standing with its neck up.”

“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 told BBC News.

“It will be named describing its magnificence and in honor to both the region and the farm owners who alerted us about the discovery.”

A team of palaeontologists from the Museum of Palaeontology excavated the site where they found around 150 bones in “remarkable condition” from the partial skeletons of seven individuals.

Dr Paul Barrett, a dinosaur expert from London’s Natural History Museum, cautioned that without a complete skeleton “the animal’s proportions and overall shape are conjectural.”

Follow Metro Boston on Twitter: @MetroBOS
Follow Metro New York on Twitter: @Metronewyork
Follow Metro Philly on Twitter: @MetroPhilly