Dinosaurs / Jurassic / Patagosaurus
Patagosaurus
Jurassic pat-uh-go-SAWR-us, “Patagonian lizard”
Patagosaurus is a primitive eusauropod from the Middle Jurassic of Chubut Province, Argentina. Discovered by renowned palaeontologist José Bonaparte, it was found alongside remains of the theropod Piatnitzkysaurus. Measuring roughly sixteen metres in length and tipping the scales at around ten tonnes, Patagosaurus exhibited robust limbs and spatulate teeth typical of basal sauropods. Because fossils representing several individuals of differing ages were excavated from the same site, researchers infer that Patagosaurus lived in social herds. Its relatively unspecialised skeleton provides critical information regarding the early evolution and diversification of sauropods across southern Gondwana before the emergence of advanced neosauropods like titanosaurs and diplodocids.
Multiple individuals, including juveniles and adults, were discovered buried together, suggesting gregarious herd behaviour.
Where and when
Patagosaurus lived in the Middle Jurassic, from 168 to 163 million years ago (Callovian age). Its remains come from Argentina, in the Cañadón Asfalto Formation.
The numbers
Length 17 m (estimates run from 15 to 18 m). Mass about 9.8 t. Hip height about 3.8 m. That is 9.7 human-lengths, or 1.47 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from partial skeleton; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, first ma, last ma, hip height.