Argentinosaurus
From Argentina (the country where fossils were found) + Greek sauros (σαῦρος) meaning 'lizard'; overall meaning 'lizard from Argentina'.
Late Cretaceous stages
Argentinosaurus is a genus of giant sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Argentina. Although it is only known from fragmentary remains, Argentinosaurus is one of the largest known land animals of all time, perhaps the largest, measuring 30-35 m (98-115 ft) long and weighing 65-80 t (72-88 short tons). It was a member of Titanosauria, the dominant group of sauropods during the Cretaceous.
Diagnosis
- Opisthocoelous dorsal vertebrae with very developed hyposphene-hypantrum bearing extra articulations between them
- Anterior dorsal neural spines transversely wide and anteroposteriorly planar, with robust prespinal laminae
- Sacral vertebral bodies 2-5 very reduced in size relative to first sacral
- Dorsal ribs of tubular, cylindrical, hollow structure with thin external wall
- Slender tibia 155 cm long with proportionally short cnemial crest
Species
Argentinosaurus huinculensis Bonaparte & Coria, 1993
Type species
Named for Plaza Huincul, the town near which the holotype was discovered in Neuquén Province, Argentina.
- Holotype
- MCF-PVPH 1 , Museo ‘Carmen Funes’, Plaza Huincul
- Material
- Three anterior dorsal vertebrae and three posterior dorsals (some incomplete); ventral sacrum with vertebral bodies 1-5 and most right sacral ribs; large fragmentary dorsal rib; right tibia with weathered external face
- Horizon
- Huincul Formation, Cenomanian–Turonian, Late Cretaceous , 100.5–89.8 million years ago
- Locality
- Las Overas, Neuquén, Argentina
References
- Bonaparte, J. F.; Coria, R. A. (1993). Un nuevo y gigantesco saurópodo titanosaurio de la Formación Rio Limay (Albanio-Cenomaniano) de la Provincia del Neuquén, Argentina [A new and huge titanosaur sauropod from the Rio Limay Formation (Albian-Cenomanian) of Neuquén Province, Argentina]. Ameghiniana 30(3): 271-282. bonaparte1993a