Fossils of largest ever land animal discovered
A new study confirms that the recently discovered remains of a dinosaur in Argentina belong a new species, the largest land animal to have ever walked the face of the Earth.
The Wire reports that the species is known as Dreadnoughtus. The name means, "fear nothing," which is appropriate given the animal's massive size. It is believed to have been 33 feet tall, 85 feet long, and 65 tons. It is estimated to have walked the Earth around 77 million years ago. The name was inspired by the largest class of battleships fielded by the British navy at the turn of the 20th century.
Dr. Kennth Locavara, an associate professor at Drexel University, discovered the first fossil of Dreadnoughtus on a 2005 expedition to Argentina's Patagonia. On four subsequent trips, Locavara collected 145 bones weighing 16 tons, according to The Wire. They were shipped from Argentina to Pennsylvania, where Drexel is located, by an ocean liner chartered by the Argentine government. After arriving in Pennsylvania, they had to be taken to three different labs because there was too much bone to analyze.
The bones collected by Locavara represent around 45 percent of the animal's original skeleton. Locavara also believes that the Dreadnoughtus was not fully grown because of evidence found on the skeleton, according to The Wire.
The New York Times reports that Dreadnoughtus is one of the most complete skeletons of a class of dinosaurs known as Titanosauruses.
The Times reports that the Dreadnoughtus has a possible rival for the title of largest land animal ever in the Argentinosaurus, another Titanosaurus discovered in Argentina's Patagonia region. While some parts of the Argentinosaurus' spine appear larger than those of Dreadnoughtus, researchers do not have enough information for a truly accurate comparison. Key bones needed to accurately determine the true size and weight of the Argentinosaurus have not been found.
