Huge New Dinosaur Species Found in Argentina

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 15, 2007 4:45 PM CDT

(Newser) – The recently discovered fossil of a giant dinosaur that roamed South America 80 million years ago is not only remarkably complete but also represents a new species, Brazilian and Argentine paleontologists announced today. Futalognkosaurus dukei, a four-legged, long-necked herbivore, measured about 110 feet from head to tail and was four stories tall at the shoulder.

The fossilized skeleton is 70% complete, the most intact giant dinosaur fossil ever found—most are only about 10% complete. A wealth of plants, fish and other small specimens contemporary with Futalognkosaurus were found with the specimen, providing a rare look at the ancient ecosystem: "It's like a whole lost world for us," said one paleontologist.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

A cameraman, right, takes a shot of parts of a skeleton of what could be a new dinosaur species, a 105-foot plant-eater, Futalognkosaurus dukei dinosaur, during a news conference in Rio de Janeiro, Monday,... (Associated Press)

Alexander Kellner, left, a researcher with the Brazilian National Museum, and Argentine paleontologists Jorge Calvo, center, and Juan Porfiri, display parts of a skeleton of what could be a new dinosaur... (Associated Press)

An artists rendering of the Futalognkosaurus. "It's a new species, it's a new group," Argentine paleontologist Juan Porfiri told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro. (Wikimedia Commons)

A computer generated image of what could be a new dinosaur species, a 105-foot plant-eater, Futalognkosaurus dukei dinosaur, is seen in a TV screen, left, during a news conference in Rio de Janeiro, Monday,... (Associated Press)

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