Page 71 - The Dinosaur Book and Other Wonders of the Prehistoric World (DK-Smithsonian)

Patagotitan

COLOSSAL GIANT

Found in 2008 in Patagonia, Argentina, the bones of
Patagotitan are so big that its total length is estimated to be
up to 121 ft (37 m), with a weight equivalent to 12 African
elephants. Only the blue whale is heavier.

Titanosaurs had long tails, but
not as long as the tails of many This is one of the
earlier sauropods. few titanosaurs that
has been preserved
with a fossil skull, so
we know that it had
a short snout.

Despite this animal’s
Malawisaurus
immense weight, it walked
on the tips of its hand bones.

out to be the biggest land animal that ever lived. and body forms, suited to a wide variety of
But other titanosaurs, including Saltasaurus feeding habits and lifestyles. Despite this,
and Malawisaurus, were no bigger than they were all herbivores, specialized for
elephants, which is small by sauropod standards. devouring vast quantities of leaves and other
Over the 80 million years of their existence, the plant material. Fossil evidence also suggests that
titanosaurs evolved many different head shapes they probably lived in herds and nested together. 69

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