Updated 08:18 PM EDT, Thu, Apr 18, 2024

Biggest Dinosaur 'Dreadnoughtus' Found in Latin America

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Scientists have discovered the biggest dinosaur that may have ever lived - Dreadnoughtus schrani. Paleontologists say the supermassive dinosaur, which was found in Argentina, is estimated to tip the scales at an astounding 59.3 tons, equivalent to 59,300 kg or 130,734 pounds, reported CNet.

The discovery of the Dreadnoughtus was announced Thursday and Reuters indicated that the findings were based on the well-preserved fossil remains found in southern Patagonia. Its long neck and measurements were reported to be 85 feet long (26 meters) with a neck 37 feet long (11.3 meters) and a tail 30 feet long (8.7 meters).

"Dreadnoughtus schrani was astoundingly huge," said Kenneth Lacovara, PhD, an associate professor in Drexel University's College of Arts and Sciences, who discovered the Dreadnoughtus fossil skeleton, per Science Daily.

"It weighed as much as a dozen African elephants or more than seven T. rex. Shockingly, skeletal evidence shows that when this 65-ton specimen died, it was not yet full grown. It is by far the best example we have of any of the most giant creatures to ever walk the planet," Dr. Lacovara, who also led the excavation and analysis team, added.

Dr. Lacovara said, in a statement shared by The Huffington Post: "With a body the size of a house, the weight of a herd of elephants, and a weaponized tail, Dreadnoughtus would have feared nothing."

The species, which belongs to the titanosaur group, is estimated to have lived some 77 million years, Science Daily added.

By comparison, with its over 60 ton weight, it is larger than a Boeing 737-900 that is registered at only about 47 tons, the Huffington Post wrote.

In a report by The Independent, researchers believe that "The dinosaur died after the ground on which it stood turned to quicksand in the wake of a flood, based on sedimentary deposits found at the site."

"The rapid and deep burial of the Dreadnoughtus type specimen accounts for its extraordinary completeness. Its misfortune was our luck," Dr. Lacovara said, as quoted by The Independent.

The name, Dreadnoughtus, has a very special meaning, and for the researchers, it best represents their huge discovery.

"We decided on Dreadnoughtus - meaning 'fearer of nothing' - because when you're as big as this thing was, you're probably not afraid of too much," explained researcher Matt Lamanna of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, noted Reuters.

"Not to mention we thought it was time a plant-eating dinosaur got a badass name. Those are usually reserved for the meat-eaters," continued the paleontologist.

The study was published Sept. 4 in the Scientific Reports journal.

Learn more about the new discovery in the Drexel University video found below:

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