Lusotitan

Lusotitan was a colossal brachiosaurid that lived in what is now western Portugal during the Late Jurassic. Initially named as Brachiosaurus atalaiensis in 1957 by Albert-Félix de Lapparent and Georges Zbyszewski, it was reassigned to its own genus in 2003 based on distinctive features of its vertebrae and limbs. The known skeleton consists of vertebrae from the neck, back, and tail, as well as parts of the pelvis and limbs. With immense forelimbs and a high-shouldered profile, Lusotitan could reach upper tree canopy foliage inaccessible to most other contemporary herbivores in its ecosystem. Measuring up to twenty-five metres long, it was one of the largest dinosaurs ever found in prehistoric Europe.

It was originally described as a European species of Brachiosaurus before receiving its own genus.

Where and when

Lusotitan lived in the Late Jurassic, from 152 to 149 million years ago (Kimmeridgian-Tithonian age). Its remains come from Portugal, in the Lourinhã Formation.

The numbers

Length 23 m (estimates run from 21 to 25 m). Mass about 29 t. Hip height about 6 m. That is 13.5 human-lengths, or 2.05 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from partial skeleton; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, hip height.

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