Discovered a new giant predatory dinosaur, up to 10m long
A 70-million-year-old fossil unearthed in southern Argentina reveals previously unknown giant predatory dinosaurs.
The new species, named Maip macrothorax, lived in the late Cretaceous period in what is now Patagonia across the territory of Argentina and Chile, according to research published in the journal Nature on April 26. The remains of the creature were unearthed at the Estancia La Anita site, 30 kilometers southwest of the town of El Calafate in the province of Santa Cruz, Agrentina.
Simulation of the newly discovered giant carnivorous dinosaur. (Photo: CONICET)
Fossil analysis shows that Maip macrothorax was between 9 and 10 m long and weighed about 5 tons, making it the largest member ever described of the predatory dinosaur genus Megaraptor.
To support that weight, Maip's spine consists of giant vertebrae connected by a system of muscles, tendons and ligaments. This allows the animal to stand upright on two legs after moving.
The new predator also has two small forelimbs, resembling the tyrannosaurs and spiny dinosaurs. However, while Tyrannosaurs had large and heavy bones, Megaraptor's bones contained many internal holes that made them significantly lighter.
The remains of Maip macrothorax from Argentina.
Fossils of present-day Megaraptor species have been discovered in Asia, Oceania and South America, but are most abundant in the Patagonian region of Argentina.
The study was carried out by a team of paleontologists from Japan and the National Council of Scientific and Technical Analysis (CONICET) of Argentina.
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