Giant dinosaur was as heavy as 14 African elephants!

Image
IANS London
Last Updated : May 18 2014 | 12:20 PM IST

Forget T-rex, this gigantic dinosaur that once roamed the earth was as heavy as 14 African elephants!

Yes, Scientists have unearthed fossilised bones of a 70-tonne species of a dinosaur - making it seven tonnes heavier than the previous record holder Argentinosaurus.

The bones of this 130-feel long species belonging to titanosaur family were found in Patagonian city in Argentina.

According to paleontologists Jose Luis Carballido and Ruben Cuneo from the renowned Egidio Feruglio Museum, the fossils are that of a sauropod and preliminary tests dates the fossils at some 90 million years old.

They unearthed the partial skeletons of seven individuals - about 150 bones in total - all in "remarkable condition", media reports said.

According to the measurements of its gigantic thigh bones, the herbivore would have been 130-feet long and 65-feet tall.

"It will be named describing its magnificence and in honour to both the region and the farm owners who alerted us about the discovery," the researchers were quoted as saying.

Dinosaurs first appeared about 228 million years ago on earth during the Triassic period.

They were at their peak during the Jurassic Period and disappeared at the end of the Cretaceous Period about 65 million years ago.

More than 1,000 species of dinosaurs have been identified but many are known from only fragmentary fossil remains, reports added.

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: May 18 2014 | 12:18 PM IST

Next Story