The recent discovery in Patagonia of the fossils of a massive dinosaur of a completely new species was a great surprise. The word ‘massive’ is actually an understatement.
This hulking dinosaur stood two stories tall at its shoulder and weighed as much as seven Tyrannosauruses rex. It measured 85 feet from head to tail, including its 37-foot-long neck and 30-foot-long muscular tail.
Scientists are hesitant to say that Dreadnoughtus schrani is the largest dinosaur species that ever lived, but it is certainly right up there.
…Nothing could have attacked Dreadnoughtus schrani and won, paleontologists say. It was simply too big.
Based on the size of the femur, or thigh bone, and the humerus, or upper arm bone, scientists believe this Dreadnoughtus weighed 65 tons when it died 66 million to 84 million years ago. (They are still working on getting a more precise age.) That would make it heavier than a Boeing 737.
And here’s the kicker: Skeletal evidence suggests that at the time of its death, the gargantuan creature was still growing.
I think Ken Ham might have to make his replica of the Ark a little bigger.
jaxkayaker says
“I think Ken Ham might have to make his replica of the Ark a little bigger.”
Ha!
Better: Noah, to sons, upon seeing Dreadnoughtus: “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
cf.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gciFoEbOA8
jws1 says
Would love to see educated guesses on how much it ate.
jws1 says
Or pooped.
kyoseki says
I still maintain they missed a golden opportunity by not calling it “Gihugeamus”