How Big Was the Largest Known Land Animal?

The new heavyweight champion of the world has just been crowned. While its bones were found in southern Argentina in 2012, the significance of Patagotitan mayorum, a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur that lived 102 million years ago, was finally unveiled in research published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B in 2017. The dinosaur weighed about 76 tons (69 metric tons), was likely 120 feet (37 m) long, and nearly 20 feet (6 m) high at the shoulder. The archeological find included a femur, or thigh bone, that measures 8 feet (2.4 m) in length. Patagotitan mayorum is a new species in a diverse group of prehistoric creatures called titanosaurs. It is the largest land animal yet to have been discovered.

Big news from the prehistoric world:

• Another titanosaur, dubbed Argentinosaurus, was previously thought to be the largest land animal that has ever lived on Earth.
• Tyrannosaurus rex “look like dwarfs when you put them against one of these giant titanosaurs,” said researcher Diego Pol. “They were probably massive, slow-moving animals.”
• A full-scale model of the lumbering titanosaur can be seen at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the largest known land animal?

The largest known land animal was the Argentinosaurus, a genus of titanosaur sauropod dinosaur. It lived during the Late Cretaceous period and is estimated to have reached lengths of up to 100 feet and possibly weighed as much as 100 tons, according to paleontological findings.

How does the size of Argentinosaurus compare to an African elephant?

An African elephant, the largest living land animal today, can weigh up to 6-7 tons and reach lengths of up to 20-24 feet. In comparison, the Argentinosaurus was several times larger, with estimates suggesting it could have been over four times longer and more than ten times heavier than an African elephant.

What evidence do scientists have of the Argentinosaurus' size?

Scientists have discovered fossilized bones, such as vertebrae and limb bones, which provide a framework for estimating the size of Argentinosaurus. These fossils allow paleontologists to use comparisons with better-known dinosaurs and scaling methods to reconstruct its probable dimensions and weight.

Could there have been any land animals larger than Argentinosaurus?

While Argentinosaurus is currently the largest well-substantiated land animal, there is always the possibility that larger species existed but have not yet been discovered or correctly identified. The fossil record is incomplete, and new discoveries could potentially reveal even larger prehistoric giants.

When did Argentinosaurus live, and where have its fossils been found?

Argentinosaurus lived approximately 95 to 100 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. Its fossils have been primarily found in Argentina, which is also how it got its name. The first discovery was made in 1987 by a rancher in the Patagonia region.

How did the size of Argentinosaurus affect its lifestyle and environment?

The massive size of Argentinosaurus likely had significant implications for its lifestyle, including requiring vast amounts of vegetation to sustain its energy needs. Its size would have deterred most predators, but it also meant that Argentinosaurus had to support immense weight, which influenced its movement and the structure of its habitat.