Time: 113-101 million years ago, Albian of the early Cretaceous period.
Place: South America.
Size: 110-157 feet (33.4-47.9 meters).
Weight: 52-62 tons.
Diet: Herbivore.
Let's talk about Patagotitan!
Description:
Patagotitan is a member of the titanosauria (Otero et al., 2020, "Systematic Paleontology"), and it was one of the largest animals to have ever walked the Earth. It lived during the Albian of the Cerro Barcino Formation, 113-101 million years ago, in South America (Carballido et al., 2017, "Systematic palaeontology": "Type locality and horizon," Figure 3) (Otero et al., 2020, "Systematic Paleontology: Locality and Horizon"). It was 110-157 feet long (33.4-47.9 meters). As for its weight, it was originally given 69 tons (Carballido et al., 2017, "Body Mass" p. 2), but Paul (2019) gave it 52 tons (pg. 339 Table 1). Otero et al., (2020) gave it 57 tons ("Abstract," "Recalculating the Body Mass of Patagotitan," "Conclusions"). Larramendi et al., (2020) gave it 56,419 kg (62 tons) to the holotype (MPEF-PV 3400) (Table 10).
Patagotitan's Time Period (Carballido et al., 2017, Figure 3):
On October 10, 2019, it was announced that sauropod dinosaurs would have had rhamphotheca, or a beak-like structure made of keratin. This beak would have protected the sauropod's teeth and kept them in place, since fossilized sauropod teeth are usually found in good condition and connected to their skulls (John Pickrell, 10/10/19) (Pickrell, 10/17/19). Interestingly, dinosaurs couldn't move their tongues (Mindy Weisberger, 2018) (ScienceDaily, 2018).
Friends:
Patagotitan lived alongside the rebbachisaurs Limaysaurus (59-68 feet; 17.9-20.8 meters) and Cathartesaura (56 feet; 17.1 meters), the titanosaurs Andesaurus (52 feet; 15.7 meters), MMCH-Pv 47 (71 feet; 21.7 meters) and Argentinosaurus (83 feet; 25.3 meters). It also coexisted with the
ornithopod Anabisetia.
Predators:
Patagotitan's enemies consisted of Giganotosaurus (36-50 feet; 10.9-15.3 meters), the abelisaurs Ekrixinatosaurus (24 feet; 7.2 meters) and Skorpiovenator (15 feet; 4.5 meters), the dromeosaurs Buitreraptor (4 feet; 1.3 meters) and Unenlagia (8-9 feet; 2.3-2.8 meters), the neovenatorid Gualicho (24 feet; 7.2 meters), and perhaps Spinosaurus (27-55 feet; 8.1-16.8 meters). However, Spinosaurus would have preferred rivers and fish (Kristen Rogers, 2020, "Competing for food," p. 1).
Links:
Otero et al., (2020) ("Systematic Paleontology: Locality and Horizon"):
International Commission of Stratigraphy Website:
https://stratigraphy.org/news/130
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/12/size-calculations-for-herbivorous.html
Weight:
Larramendi et al., (2020) (Table 10):
https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.24574
International Chronostratigraphic Chart (2020):
https://stratigraphy.org/timescale/International Commission of Stratigraphy Website:
https://stratigraphy.org/news/130
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/12/size-calculations-for-herbivorous.html
Weight:
Larramendi et al., (2020) (Table 10):
https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.24574
Otero et al., (2020) ("Abstract," "Recalculating the Body Mass of Patagotitan," "Conclusions"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344346605_The_appendicular_osteology_of_Patagotitan_mayorum_Dinosauria_Sauropoda
Paul (2019) (Pg. 339 Table 1):
http://www.gspauldino.com/Titanomass.pdf
Carballido et al., (2017):
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/284/1860/20171219
Articles:
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40889321
Link 2:
http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/patagotitan-mayorum-05121.html
Beak:
John Pickrell (10/10/19):
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/10/giant-sauropod-dinosaurs-may-have-sported-turtlelike-beaks
John Pickrell (10/17/19):
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/10/sauropods-grew-big-munching-superfoods-sturdy-beaks
Tongue:
Mindy Weisberger (2018):
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/t-rex-couldnt-stick-out-its-tongue/
ScienceDaily (2018):
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180620150129.htm
Friends:
Limaysaurus:
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/12/size-calculations-for-herbivorous.html
Cathartesaura:
Time:
Gallina and Apesteguia (2005):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262637167_Cathartesaura_anaerobica_gen_et_sp_nov_a_new_rebbachisaurid_Dinosauria_Sauropoda_from_the_Huincul_Formation_Upper_Cretaceous_Rio_Negro_Argentina
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/12/size-calculations-for-herbivorous.html
Andesaurus:
Time:
Casal et al., (2016) (Pg. 56 "Edad de la Formacion Bajo Barreal," pg. 57):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303598984_Ordenamiento_y_caracterizacion_faunistica_del_Cretacico_Superior_del_Grupo_Chubut_Cuenca_del_Golfo_San_Jorge_Argentina
Mannion and Calvo (2010):
https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/163/1/155/2625609
Calvo and Bonaparte (1991):
https://paleoglot.org/files/Calvo&Bonaparte%201991.pdf
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/12/size-calculations-for-herbivorous.html
Argentinosaurus:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2017/11/argentinosaurus-dino-bios.html
Anabisetia:
Vallati (2002) ("Abstract"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287718853_Palynology_of_the_Cerro_Lisandro_Formation_lower_Dinosaurian_Beds_middle_Cretaceous_of_the_Neuquen_Basin_west-central_Argentina
Enemies:
Giganotosaurus:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2017/09/giganotosaurus-facts.html
Ekrixinatosaurus:
Time:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262222847_A_new_Abelisauridae_Dinosauria_Theropoda_from_northwest_Patagonia
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/10/calculations-for-largest-theropods.html
Skorpiovenator:
Time:
Canale et al., (2009):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23572798_New_carnivorous_dinosaur_from_the_Late_Cretaceous_of_NW_Patagonia_and_the_evolution_of_abelisaurid_theropods
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/10/calculations-for-largest-theropods.html
Buitreraptor:
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/10/calculations-for-largest-theropods.html
Time:
Baez et al., (2000) (Pg. 491, "Geological Setting"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312503089_The_earliest_known_pipoid_frog_from_South_America_A_new_genus_from_the_Middle_Cretaceous_of_Argentina
David Cannatella (2015) ("Temporal Data: Ages of Fossils and Calibration Priors," p. 20):
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/438910
Tunik et al., (2010) ("Abstract;" pg. 270):
https://www.academia.edu/5642253/Early_uplift_and_orogenic_deformation_in_the_Neuqu%C3%A9n_Basin_Constraints_on_the_Andean_uplift_from_U_Pb_and_Hf_isotopic_data_of_detrital_zircons
Link 2:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0040195110001642
Link 3:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248242916_Early_uplift_and_orogenic_deformation_in_the_Neuquen_Basin_Constraints_on_the_Andean_uplift_from_U-Pb_and_Hf_isotopic_data_of_detrital_zircons
Di Giullo et al., (2012) (Pg. 600 "Results"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233851583_Detrital_zircon_provenance_from_the_Neuquen_Basin_south-central_Andes_Cretaceous_geodynamic_evolution_and_sedimentary_response_in_a_retroarc-foreland_basin
Unenlagia:
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/10/calculations-for-largest-theropods.html
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/10/calculations-for-largest-theropods.html
Time:
Vallati (2001) ("Abstract"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241723727_Middle_Cretaceous_microflora_from_the_Huincul_Formation_Dinosaurian_Beds_in_the_Neuquen_Basin_Patagonia_Argentina
List of Microflora:
https://paleobotany.ru/palynodata/publication/21442?dir=asc&order=NameSp&page=1
Vallati (2006) ("Abstract"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240841718_Las_primeras_angiospermas_en_el_Cretacico_de_la_Cuenca_Neuquina_centro_oeste_de_Argentina_Aspectos_geologicos_relacionados
Musacchio and Vallati (2007) ("Introduction"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267692115_Late_Cretaceous_non_marine_microfossils_of_the_Plottier_Formation_Cretaceous_at_Zampal_Argentina
Link 2:
https://www.academia.edu/7770746/LATE_CRETACEOUS_NON_MARINE_MICROFOSSILS_OF_THE_PLOTTIER_FORMATION_CRETACEOUS_AT_ZAMPAL_ARGENTINA._E._Musacchio_and_P._Vallati_2007
Vallati (2013) ("Paleotropical representatives in Northern Patagonia" 1-1.2, "Conclusions"):
http://paleopolis.rediris.es/cg/CG2013_L05/
Corbella et al., (2004) ("Abstract," "Characteristics and radiometric age of the tuff bed" pg. 229):
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/H_Leanza/publication/263009336_First_fission-track_age_for_the_dinosaur-bearing_Neuquen_Group_Upper_Cretaceous_Neuquen_Basin_Argentina/links/0f31753987fde7ee73000000/First-fission-track-age-for-the-dinosaur-bearing-Neuquen-Group-Upper-Cretaceous-Neuquen-Basin-Argentina.pdf
Link 2:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263009336_First_fission-track_age_for_the_dinosaur-bearing_Neuquen_Group_Upper_Cretaceous_Neuquen_Basin_Argentina
Spinosaurus:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2017/09/spinosaurus-facts.html
Time:
Kellner et al., (2010):
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/aabc/v83n1/v83n1a06.pdf
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2017/09/spinosaurus-facts.html
Link 2:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/10/calculations-for-largest-theropods.html
Oxalaia is Spinosaurus:
Kristen Rogers (2020) ("Competing for food," p. 1):
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/29/world/spinosaurus-swimmer-discovery-scn/index.html
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344346605_The_appendicular_osteology_of_Patagotitan_mayorum_Dinosauria_Sauropoda
Paul (2019) (Pg. 339 Table 1):
http://www.gspauldino.com/Titanomass.pdf
Carballido et al., (2017):
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/284/1860/20171219
Articles:
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40889321
Link 2:
http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/patagotitan-mayorum-05121.html
Beak:
John Pickrell (10/10/19):
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/10/giant-sauropod-dinosaurs-may-have-sported-turtlelike-beaks
John Pickrell (10/17/19):
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/10/sauropods-grew-big-munching-superfoods-sturdy-beaks
Tongue:
Mindy Weisberger (2018):
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/t-rex-couldnt-stick-out-its-tongue/
ScienceDaily (2018):
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180620150129.htm
Friends:
Limaysaurus:
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/12/size-calculations-for-herbivorous.html
Time and Discovery:
Calvo and Salgado, (1995):
Calvo and Salgado, (1995):
2nd Version:
Time:
Gallina and Apesteguia (2005):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262637167_Cathartesaura_anaerobica_gen_et_sp_nov_a_new_rebbachisaurid_Dinosauria_Sauropoda_from_the_Huincul_Formation_Upper_Cretaceous_Rio_Negro_Argentina
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/12/size-calculations-for-herbivorous.html
Andesaurus:
Time:
Casal et al., (2016) (Pg. 56 "Edad de la Formacion Bajo Barreal," pg. 57):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303598984_Ordenamiento_y_caracterizacion_faunistica_del_Cretacico_Superior_del_Grupo_Chubut_Cuenca_del_Golfo_San_Jorge_Argentina
Mannion and Calvo (2010):
https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/163/1/155/2625609
Calvo and Bonaparte (1991):
https://paleoglot.org/files/Calvo&Bonaparte%201991.pdf
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/12/size-calculations-for-herbivorous.html
Argentinosaurus:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2017/11/argentinosaurus-dino-bios.html
Anabisetia:
Coria and Calvo (2002) (Pg. 503):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233127594_A_new_iguanodontian_ornithopod_from_Neuquen_Basin_Patagonia_ArgentinaVallati (2002) ("Abstract"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287718853_Palynology_of_the_Cerro_Lisandro_Formation_lower_Dinosaurian_Beds_middle_Cretaceous_of_the_Neuquen_Basin_west-central_Argentina
Enemies:
Giganotosaurus:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2017/09/giganotosaurus-facts.html
Ekrixinatosaurus:
Time:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262222847_A_new_Abelisauridae_Dinosauria_Theropoda_from_northwest_Patagonia
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/10/calculations-for-largest-theropods.html
Skorpiovenator:
Time:
Canale et al., (2009):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23572798_New_carnivorous_dinosaur_from_the_Late_Cretaceous_of_NW_Patagonia_and_the_evolution_of_abelisaurid_theropods
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/10/calculations-for-largest-theropods.html
Buitreraptor:
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/10/calculations-for-largest-theropods.html
Time:
Baez et al., (2000) (Pg. 491, "Geological Setting"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312503089_The_earliest_known_pipoid_frog_from_South_America_A_new_genus_from_the_Middle_Cretaceous_of_Argentina
David Cannatella (2015) ("Temporal Data: Ages of Fossils and Calibration Priors," p. 20):
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/438910
Tunik et al., (2010) ("Abstract;" pg. 270):
https://www.academia.edu/5642253/Early_uplift_and_orogenic_deformation_in_the_Neuqu%C3%A9n_Basin_Constraints_on_the_Andean_uplift_from_U_Pb_and_Hf_isotopic_data_of_detrital_zircons
Link 2:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0040195110001642
Link 3:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248242916_Early_uplift_and_orogenic_deformation_in_the_Neuquen_Basin_Constraints_on_the_Andean_uplift_from_U-Pb_and_Hf_isotopic_data_of_detrital_zircons
Di Giullo et al., (2012) (Pg. 600 "Results"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233851583_Detrital_zircon_provenance_from_the_Neuquen_Basin_south-central_Andes_Cretaceous_geodynamic_evolution_and_sedimentary_response_in_a_retroarc-foreland_basin
Unenlagia:
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/10/calculations-for-largest-theropods.html
Time (For Both Species):
Gallo et al., (2011):
Link 2 ("Abstract"):
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667110001199
Gualicho:
Gianechini and Apesteguia (2011) (Pg. 171 and 176):
Link 2:
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/10/calculations-for-largest-theropods.html
Time:
Vallati (2001) ("Abstract"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241723727_Middle_Cretaceous_microflora_from_the_Huincul_Formation_Dinosaurian_Beds_in_the_Neuquen_Basin_Patagonia_Argentina
List of Microflora:
https://paleobotany.ru/palynodata/publication/21442?dir=asc&order=NameSp&page=1
Vallati (2006) ("Abstract"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240841718_Las_primeras_angiospermas_en_el_Cretacico_de_la_Cuenca_Neuquina_centro_oeste_de_Argentina_Aspectos_geologicos_relacionados
Musacchio and Vallati (2007) ("Introduction"):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267692115_Late_Cretaceous_non_marine_microfossils_of_the_Plottier_Formation_Cretaceous_at_Zampal_Argentina
Link 2:
https://www.academia.edu/7770746/LATE_CRETACEOUS_NON_MARINE_MICROFOSSILS_OF_THE_PLOTTIER_FORMATION_CRETACEOUS_AT_ZAMPAL_ARGENTINA._E._Musacchio_and_P._Vallati_2007
Vallati (2013) ("Paleotropical representatives in Northern Patagonia" 1-1.2, "Conclusions"):
http://paleopolis.rediris.es/cg/CG2013_L05/
Corbella et al., (2004) ("Abstract," "Characteristics and radiometric age of the tuff bed" pg. 229):
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/H_Leanza/publication/263009336_First_fission-track_age_for_the_dinosaur-bearing_Neuquen_Group_Upper_Cretaceous_Neuquen_Basin_Argentina/links/0f31753987fde7ee73000000/First-fission-track-age-for-the-dinosaur-bearing-Neuquen-Group-Upper-Cretaceous-Neuquen-Basin-Argentina.pdf
Link 2:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263009336_First_fission-track_age_for_the_dinosaur-bearing_Neuquen_Group_Upper_Cretaceous_Neuquen_Basin_Argentina
Spinosaurus:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2017/09/spinosaurus-facts.html
Time:
Kellner et al., (2010):
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/aabc/v83n1/v83n1a06.pdf
Size:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2017/09/spinosaurus-facts.html
Link 2:
https://psdinosaurs.blogspot.com/2018/10/calculations-for-largest-theropods.html
Oxalaia is Spinosaurus:
Smyth et al., (2020):
Spent Time in Water:Kristen Rogers (2020) ("Competing for food," p. 1):
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/29/world/spinosaurus-swimmer-discovery-scn/index.html