Meet the Patagotitan, a colossal dinosaur that roamed Earth over 100 million years ago. This behemoth measured 122 feet long and weighed as much as 77 tons, making it the largest known dinosaur to have ever existed.
The Colossal Patagotitan: Unveiling the Secrets of the Largest Dinosaur Ever Known
The next time a 4-year-old asks what the biggest dinosaur ever was, you can respond confidently: It was the titanosaur Patagotitan mayorum, a colossal creature that lived more than 100 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period.
This prehistoric behemoth was so enormous that it is longer than a modern-day blue whale and had a body size that rivaled the size of a modern airplane. The remains of this new species were uncovered in the Patagonia region of Argentina in 2014 by paleontologists José Luis Carballido and Diego Pol.
Physical Characteristics of the Patagotitan
The Patagotitan mayorum is estimated to have been about 77 tons (70 metric tonnes) and 122 feet (37.2 meters) long, which would make it the largest dinosaur we know of. It had thick, wide-set, column-like legs that provided stability for its heavy body. The femurs (leg bones) that were discovered alongside other fossilized bones measured nearly 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall.
Social Behavior and Habitat
Patagotitans were likely the largest titanosaurs, which were a group characterized by their long necks, massive bodies, and relatively small heads. They lived in herds, moving together to find food. Living in a group likely offered safety from predators such as therapods, which were a danger to young Patagotitans.
Diet and Digestive System
Patagotitans were herbivores, so their diet likely included leaves, ferns, and cycads. The long neck of the dinosaur allowed it to reach the tallest trees, where it could feed on leaves that were inaccessible to smaller plant-eaters. Unlike modern herbivores, Patagotitan didn’t chew its food. Instead, it swallowed vegetation whole, relying on a complex digestive system to break down the tough plant material.
Life Cycle of a Patagotitan
The life of a Patagotitan mayorum began as a hatchling, emerging from an egg that was surprisingly small, given the size of the adult. Hatchlings grew rapidly, reaching 10 times their initial size within just a couple months. This fast growth rate was essential, as it allowed them to outgrow predators quickly and join the safety of the herd.
Other Massive Titanosaurs
Titanosaurs include other species such as Argentinosaurus and Dreadnoughtus, which were slightly smaller than Patagotitan but still enormous.
- howstuffworks.com | Patagotitan Dinosaurs Weighed More Than 25 Pickup Trucks
