Page 239 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

p a t a gonia  237

The Fossil Finders
Patagonia’s biggest finds were first spotted by laymen.
Rancher Guillermo Heredia found Argentinosaurus on his
farm in northwest Patagonia; car mechanic Ruben Carolini
unearthed Giganotosaurus; and the bones of Dakosaurus Río Negro
were found by visitors to northwest Patagonia in 2005. Río Chubut

The first dinosaur eggs
were excavated from the
world’s largest dinosaur
nesting ground in 1997
by scientists in Patagonia. Río Chico
Another discovery was
by a family in Lamarque
in Patagonia.
Patagonia’s Fossil Sites
1 Auca Mahuevo
Raúl Vacca of
Museo 2 Bosque Petrificado José
Paleontólogico Ormachea (see p233)
Egidio Feruglio 3 Bryn Gwyn
(MEF) in Trelew is a 4 Lago Barreales (see p238)
world expert in the
preparing and 5 Monumento Natural Bosques
mounting of fos­ Petrificados (see p233)
silized skeletons. 6 Plaza Huincul
7 Villa El Chocón (see p239)
Important Events
1989: Argentinosaurus
discovered near Plaza Huincul.
Digging tools and 1995: The huge carnivore
excavation brushes Giganotosaurus unearthed in
are used to sepa­ Villa El Chocón.
rate the fossil from 1997: Dinosaur embryos with
its entombing sedi­
ments, and then to skin tissue intact discovered at
clean it. Auca Mahuevo.
1999: MEF museum opens in
Trelew, showcasing major fossil
finds (see p229).
2000: Field work begins at Lago
Barreales, Argentina’s largest
How They Looked fossil site.
2005: Discovery of Dakosaurus,
Argentinosaurus had massive giant marine crocodile.
limbs and a very long neck 2006: World’s largest­known
and tail. Giganotosaurus was terror bird, Phorusrhacid,
an agile predator with short The ocean-dwelling Dakosaurus uncovered in Patagonia.
arms and powerful legs.
Dakosaurus andiniensis had andiniensis 2009: Discovery of a 65 million­
year­old Plesiosaurus in El Calafate.
fins and a fish­like tail.

A Titanosaurus embryo seen within the
The herbivore Argentinosaurus The carnivore Giganotosaurus surrounding rock
huinculensis carolinii

AR_236_AD321_1162_Palaeon.indd 237 15/08/2014 11:00