The beast's remains were found by paleontologists excavating a site in Argentina

Sep 5, 2014 06:54 GMT  ·  By
Colossal 65-ton dinosaur roamed the Earth 77 million years ago, populated forests in South America
   Colossal 65-ton dinosaur roamed the Earth 77 million years ago, populated forests in South America

A paper published in the journal Scientific Reports this past September 4 announces the discovery of a new dinosaur species. This previously unknown species was documented based on fossilized skeletal remains unearthed in present-day Argentina.

As detailed in the journal Scientific Reports, the ancient beast whose fossils paleontologists unearthed in south-west Patagonia, Argentina, was among the largest creatures ever to walk the face of the Earth.

Thus, evidence at hand indicates that the dinosaur, named Dreadnoughtus schrani, measured 85 feet (approximately 26 meters) from head to tail, and weighed somewhere around 65 tons (roughly 59,300 kilograms / 130,734 pounds).

“Dreadnoughtus schrani was astoundingly huge. It weighed as much as a dozen African elephants or more than seven T. rex. It is by far the best example we have of any of the most giant creatures to ever walk the planet,” explains Kenneth Lacovara with US' Drexel University.

What's interesting is that this 65-ton dinosaur whose remains paleontologists found in present-day Argentina was not even done growing at the time it died. Thus, the makeup of its bones indicates that it had not yet reached maturity.

Dreadnoughtus schrani lived about 77 million years ago. It inhabited ancient temperate forests in South America, and as surprising as this may sound given its impressive size, it was by no means a ferocious predator. On the contrary, it was a herbivore.

Researchers say that, in order to grow this big, the creature likely spent most of its time eating. It is believed that it chiefly fed on tree and fern leaves it found in the forests that served as its home. Seeing how its neck was about 37 feet (about 11.3 meters) long, it probably did not have any trouble securing its next meal.

“Imagine a life-long obsession with eating. Every day is about taking in enough calories to nourish this house-sized body. I imagine their day consists largely of standing in one place,” Drexel University specialist Kenneth Lacovara describes the creature's daily routine.

Furthermore, “You have this 37-foot-long neck balanced by a 30-foot-long tail in the back. Without moving your legs, you have access to a giant feeding envelope of trees and fern leaves. You spend an hour or so clearing out this patch that has thousands of calories in it, and then you take three steps over to the right and spend the next hour clearing out that patch.”

Given its body size, Dreadnoughtus schrani is unlikely to have had any natural enemies. Then again, chances are that the predatory dinosaurs it shared its habitat with could not wait for one such colossal creature to die of natural causes so that they might feast on its flesh.

In fact, Kenneth Lacovara and fellow researchers say that, while excavating the Dreadnoughtus schrani remains found in Argentina, they came across several teeth left behind by smaller predatory and scavenging dinosaurs known as theropods. These beasts probably arrived in the area looking to feed on the dead Dreadnoughtus schrani specimen.

Check out the video below to learn more about this ancient beast and to have a look at some of the fossilized remains unearthed by paleontologists in Argentina.