Monday, October 22, 2007

Futalognkosaurus dukei


Image by Academia Brasileira de Ciencias/Handout/Reuters
From National Geographic News:

The third largest dinosaur fossil ever found has been unearthed in the Patagonia region of Argentina by a team of Brazilian and Argentine paleontologists. The fossil likely represents a new dinosaur species dating back 90 million years, and it is among the most complete ever found of a large dino, the scientists said.

The giant herbivore measured 32 to 34 meters long, stood as tall as a four-story building, and weighed 60 to 70 tons.

Researchers named the dinosaur Futalognkosaurus dukei, meaning "giant chief of the dinosaurs" in the Mapuche language, and the second being a nod to the Duke Energy Corporation, a sponsor of the excavation.