Researchers in Mendoza have announced the discovery of fossils of a new dinosaur species thought to be among the largest known to science.
A team of Argentine and American researchers led by paleontologist Bernardo Gonzalez Riga, from the National University of Cuyo, published a report this week of their discovery of a new species of giant sauropod.
The new species, discovered in Malargüe, has been named Notocolossus gonzalezparejasi – the genus meaning “Colossus of the South”. The species will take the name of Jorge Gonzalez Parejas, a lawyer from Mendoza who is known for his significant contributions to paleontological heritage protection.
The published paper identifies fossilised bones of two specimens first discovered in April 2009, 403 metres apart in rock from the late Cretaceous period, including vertebrae, a partial pubis, a humerus, and a complete hind foot.
While the lack of a complete skeleton prevents accurate measurements of size and weight, the researchers estimate Notocolossus to have measured approximately 25-28 metres long, and having weighed 40-60 tonnes, ranking it among the largest ever discovered.
The complete right humerus, measuring 1.76 metres in length, is the longest found so far; however, measurements of the vertebrae appear to be slightly less wide than specimens previously discovered.
Despite the impressive size, one of the most important aspects of the 86-million-year-old discovery is the complete hind foot, giving new information into how these creatures were able to bear the weight of their bodies. The structure of the feet, Mr. Gonzalez Riga said, “were not completely known until now. Now we have new evidence that helps solve the mystery.”
Evaluation of the foot presents evidence of different evolutionary strategies employed by the sauropods to sustain their bodies.
The paper was published in Scientific Reports, an online, open-access journal from the publishers of Nature.
Titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs inhabited most of the Southern Hemisphere during the Cretaceous period. Notocolossus joins several other Argentine Titanosaurs discovered in Patagonia, including the largest known species currently replicated and on display at the Museum of Natural History in New York.