People have always been fascinated with animals that used to roam the very territory our modern world is now residing. One of their most appealing features was their size. The creatures of the past were of large-scale which made people wonder how they used to perform the most basic actions. The fascination is today revived thanks to a discovery that a team of paleontologists made in Patagonia. It turns out their finding is the biggest dinosaur of all times.
The Biggest Dinosaur on Earth Lived during Cretaceous Era
A new study claims that there is a new champion of dinosaurs. On Tuesday, scientists officially acknowledged the discovery of a new species of dinosaur that was actually unearthed back in 2012. On top of that, the sole exhibit found in ideal state confirmed suspicious that Patagotitan is the largest creature on Earth.
The fossils identified the creature as a member of the Titanosaur sauropod and used to roam today’s land of Argentina during the Cretaceous era. The study indicates that the ancient behemoth weighs at least 65 tons. There are a few species of whales that are heavier than this. However, given that the fossils belong to a young member of this species, scientists concluded that there was more space for it to grow even bigger than this.
The American Museum of Natural History Is the First Institution to Display Patagotitan
Titanosauria was the most diverse and longeval lineage of sauropod dinosaurs. The clan survived a major radiation event during the middle Early Cretaceous. They survived long enough to see the end of this period. On top of that, this race included both the smallest and largest sauropods ever known.
Scientists found six fossils belonging to this species that date back to about 100 million years ago. The average size is of 122 feet long, and the shoulders were nearly 20 feet high. The American Museum of Natural History is already hosting a display of the biggest dinosaur on Earth.
The mystery that scientists are trying to crack is how these creatures came to grow so big. Despite their size, it is believed that they were seen as no threat. They used to move in slow motion, and for any other large animal, it was a challenge to even a relatively big distance.
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