The fossilised remains of seven enormous herbivore dinosaurs, believed to be “the largest to ever walk the earth” have been discovered in Argentina.
The site was first discovered by a ranch worker, with the owners of the land allowing scientists from the Museo Paleontologico Egidio Feruglio (MEF) to excavate the area in Chubut Province, in Argentinian Patagonia.
Based on measurements of the dinosaur’s humerus and femur, they are estimated to have stood 20m tall and 40m long, and weigh 77 tonnes, or as much as 14 African elephants.
José Luis Carballido of MEF, said:
“It’s like two trucks with a trailer each, one in front of the other, and the weight of 14 elephants together”
The scientists believe that the dinosaur is a new species of titanosaur, a gigantic herbivore in the sauropod family from the Late Cretaceous period, 100-66 million years ago.
The dinosaurs are thought to have gathered at a drinking pool, and then either died of dehydration during a drought or became stuck in the mud, with their remains preserved in tact for millions of years.
Carballido said:
“This is a real paleontological treasure. There are plenty of remains and many were nearly intact, which is unusual. In fact, the fossils from other giant titanosaurs were few and fragmented”
Fossilised dinosaur bones believed to be the largest creature ever has been found in Argentina http://t.co/zHNmXpMfde pic.twitter.com/lK4sIa5frT
— Michael Rusch (@weeddude) May 17, 2014
