Saturday, May 04 2024 | Updated at 07:52 AM EDT

Stay Connected With Us F T R

Sep 06, 2014 03:50 AM EDT

Drexel University researchers have discovered a new dinosaur species that is seven times the size of T.Rex.

Dreadnoughtus schrani, the new supermassive dinosaur species with the complete skeleton, is 85 feet long and weighs about 65 tons. In comparison, the gigantic, long-necked dinosaur is as big as a two-storey house and weighs as much as 12 elephants.

The dinosaur species roamed the earth some 77 million years ago in what is now Argentina. The new dinosaur belongs to a group of large plant eaters known as titanosaurs.

"Dreadnoughtus schrani was astoundingly huge," said Kenneth Lacovara, an associate professor in Drexel University's College of Arts and Sciences, in a press release. "It weighed as much as a dozen African elephants or more than seven T. rex. Shockingly, skeletal evidence shows that when this 65-ton specimen died, it was not yet full grown. It is by far the best example we have of any of the most giant creatures to ever walk the planet."

Dreadnoughtus fossil skeleton was discovered in southern Patagonia in Argentina over four field seasons from 2005 through 2009. The skeleton of the largest land animal is remarkably complete with over 70 percent of the bones. Previously discovered super-massive dinosaurs have been identified from relatively fragmentary remains.

"It turned into a 6-foot-plus-long femur, which was nice, but I kind of figured that this was going to be an isolated bone," Lacovara said. "And then we uncovered the tibia, and then we uncovered the fibula. By the end of the day, we had 10 bones exposed. And four years later, we had 145 bones exposed," Fox News reports.

The researchers named the dinosaur, Dreadnoughtus, after steel warships created in early 20th century. The species name, schrani, honors Adam Schran, an Internet entrepreneur and financial supporter of the project.

"I thought that Dreadnoughtus would be a good name for these dinosaurs, which does two things: It means 'fears nothing,' and this dinosaur would have had nothing to fear. It also connotes something big like a battleship," Lacovara said.

The finding is published in the journal Scientific Reports from the Nature Publishing Group.


Drexel University (DU) | FindTheBest

See Now: Covert Team Inside Newsweek Revealed as Key Players in False Human Trafficking Lawsuit

Follows Drexel, largest, dinosaur, species, Argentina, Trex, skeleton
© 2024 University Herald, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Must Read

Common Challenges for College Students: How to Overcome Them

Oct 17, 2022 PM EDTFor most people, college is a phenomenal experience. However, while higher education offers benefits, it can also come with a number of challenges to ...

Top 5 Best Resources for Math Students

Oct 17, 2022 AM EDTMath is a subject that needs to be tackled differently than any other class, so you'll need the right tools and resources to master it. So here are 5 ...

Why Taking a DNA Test is Vital Before Starting a Family

Oct 12, 2022 PM EDTIf you're considering starting a family, this is an exciting time! There are no doubt a million things running through your head right now, from ...

By Enabling The Use Of Second-Hand Technology, Alloallo Scutter It's Growth While Being Economically And Environmentally Friendly.

Oct 11, 2022 PM EDTBrands are being forced to prioritise customer lifetime value and foster brand loyalty as return on advertising investment plummets. Several brands, ...