New Titanosaur Species Discovered in Patagonia Sheds Light on Dinosaur Gigantism
Paleontologists Dr. José Luis Carballido and Dr. Matthew McCurry have discovered a new species of sauropod in Patagonia, potentially an early relative of the massive Patagotitan. The excavation site, located near Paso de Indios in Argentina's Chubut province, yielded articulated dinosaur bones, including a 1.6-meter femur, parts of limbs, and the first complete sauropod sacrum found in the region. This new species dates back 110 to 115 million years ago, a mysterious phase of the Cretaceous period. The discovery provides crucial insights into the evolution of titanosaurs, a clade that produced the largest land animals ever, such as Patagotitan mayorum, which stood 9 meters tall and stretched over 30 meters long, weighing 57 tonnes. The research aims to understand the factors behind the gigantism of these creatures.
