Bustingorrytitan: Giant Titanosaur of Late Cretaceous Patagonia

Bustingorrytitan, a colossal dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Period, roamed the region now known as Patagonia, Argentina. This massive herbivore, discovered in 2001 and formally described in 2023, provides a fascinating glimpse into the diverse sauropods that dominated the Cretaceous landscape. Named in honor of Manuel Bustingorry, the landowner where the fossils were found, Bustingorrytitan is a significant addition to our understanding of sauropod evolution.

Its discovery, which includes well preserved fossils, highlights the rich paleontological heritage of Patagonia, a region known for yielding numerous dinosaur fossils. This titanosaur lived approximately 99.6 to 93.5 million years ago (Late Cretaceous).

Bustingorrytitan Key Facts

Bustingorrytitan Origins, Taxonomy, and Timeline

The name Bustingorrytitan combines the name of Manuel Bustingorry, the landowner who supported the excavation, with “titan,” referencing the giant deities of Greek mythology, symbolizing the enormous size of this dinosaur. This etymology acknowledges the contributions of individuals involved in its discovery and highlights the dinosaur’s imposing stature.

Taxonomically, Bustingorrytitan belongs to the group Sauropoda and the clade Titanosauria. The genus Bustingorrytitan includes the type species Bustingorrytitan shiva. Titanosaurs are known for their imposing size, long necks and tails, and this new species adds to their diversity. These dinosaurs were among the last surviving sauropods, living until the end of the Cretaceous Period.

Bustingorrytitan lived during the upper Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous, approximately 99.6 to 93.5 million years ago). Significant evolutionary changes and the dominance of dinosaurs like titanosaurs in terrestrial ecosystems characterized this era. Indeed, the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary is characterised by a significant faunal turnover (the species name T. shiva refers to the hindu deity who destroyed and transformed the Universe). Understanding the timeline of Bustingorrytitan helps place it within the broader context of dinosaur evolution during this dynamic period.

Discovery & Fossil Evidence

The first fossils of Bustingorrytitan were unearthed in 2001 in the Huincul Formation at the “Bustingorry II” site next to Villa El Chocón, Neuquen Province, Patagonia, Argentina. This discovery was led by María Edith Simón and her team.

The species was formally described in 2023 by María Edith Simón and Leonardo Salgado in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. The holotype, MMCH-Pv 59/1-40, remains the unique source of information on this dinosaur. It includes a partial skeleton and skull with vertebrae, limb bones, pelvic bones, manus and tarsus; as well as a partial lower jaw and teeth have been discovered in situ.

The preservation of Bustingorrytitan’s fossils is notable for its high quality, allowing scientists to study various aspects of its anatomy and physiology. These remains have provided crucial insights into the evolutionary adaptations of titanosaurs, highlighting their gigantism and paleobiology during the Late Cretaceous Period.

Bustingorrytitan Size and Description

Short description of Bustingorrytitan

Bustingorrytitan was a quadrupedal dinosaur characterized by its massive size and long neck and tail. Its body was robust and built  support its immense weight, with powerful limbs that facilitated its movement. The skull, though not completely preserved, was likely large and broadhead, as other titanosaurs, equipped with peg-like teeth for stripping vegetation.

The vertebrae of Bustingorrytitan were large and strong, supporting its long neck and providing the flexibility needed for foraging high vegetation. Its limbs were thick and sturdy, indicating strong muscles and tendons to support its massive frame. The tail, likely equally long, likely served as a counterbalance to its neck and provided stability.

Bustingorrytitan boasters the following anatomical characters that define it as a new taxon: the pleurocoels are absent on the cervical vertebrae (the pleurocoels are cavities usual present on dinosaurs’s vertebrae, and decrease the weight of the bone), the neural arches of the anterior caudal vertebrae are solid (they are not pneumatized as in other sauropods), the humerus is gracile, and with a deltopectoral crest that expands strongly dorsally, the metatarsal V is shorter than the metarsal IV.

Evolution of titanosaurs and the position of Bustingorrytitan

In the paper presenting the primary description of Bustingorrytitan, the authors Simón and Salgado (2023) performed a phylogenetic analysis based on the anatomical characters they observed on the specimen. They retrieved it as a relatively early-diverging titanosaur, a Saltasauroidae (to whom Titanomachya, another titanosaur from Argentina, is a member), and the sister taxon to the Saltasauridae (a clade that include Opisthocoelicaudia, Neuquensaurus and Saltasaurus). Compared to the saltasaurids, Bustingorrytitan was significantly bigger, and no signs of an armoured body were preserved (Saltasaurus possessed osteoderms, while no osteoderms were retrieved on Bustingorrytiitan).

Size and Weight of Type Species

Bustingorrytitan shiva, the type species, is among the largest titanosaurs discovered. It measured approximately 98.0 feet in length and stood about 30.0 to 40.0 feet tall at the shoulders. This immense height and length made it a dominant animal in its environment, capable of reaching high vegetation that other herbivores could not.

Weighing around 67.3 tons, Bustingorrytitan was a heavyweight quadrupedal (as most titanosaurs). This substantial weight, combined with its size, suggests it had a slow but powerful gait. Its physical dimensions and weight are based on well-preserved skeletal fragments (particularly the limb bones), providing a reliable picture of its overall stature. Those well-preserved fossils will help in the future paleontologists to understand the evolution of gigantism in dinosaurs, as multiple studies have already tackled the subject (see Sanders et al., 2011 and Apaldetti et al., 2018 for sauropods; and Erickson et al., 2004 for theropods). Those studies are important to understand the paleobiology of those animals (see Botha et al., 2022 to understand the correlation between rapid growth and gigantism; or Perry et al., 2009 for respiratory system in giant dinosaurs)

Contemporary Dinosaurs

One of the dinosaurs that shared the landscape with Bustingorrytitan was Argentinosaurus, another giant titanosaur. Their similar sizes suggest they occupied overlapping ecological niches, possibly competing for the same high vegetation as a food source.

Also, present in this period was Buitreraptor, a small theropod. Buitreraptor, with its agile and lightweight body, likely preyed on small animals and possibly scavenged. Its presence alongside giant herbivores like Bustingorrytitan indicates a diverse ecosystem with a range of predator-prey dynamics.

Another dinosaur that lived alongside Bustingorrytitan is Rayososaurus. Rayososaurus, a rebbachisaurid sauropod, shared similar dietary preferences, feeding on low-lying vegetation. The coexistence of these sauropods highlights the rich and varied plant life in the region, supporting multiple large herbivores.

Cathartesaura, another sauropod from the same geological Formation as Bustingorrytitan, adds to the diversity of the Late Cretaceous fauna. This dinosaur, with its distinct body structure, likely occupied a slightly different niche, feeding on a variety of vegetation. The presence of Cathartesaura alongside Bustingorrytitan emphasizes the complex and dynamic ecosystems of the time.

Interesting Points about Bustingorrytitan

Bustingorrytitan in its Natural Habitat

Bustingorrytitan thrived in the lush environments of Late Cretaceous Patagonia. The climate during this period was warmer and seasonal. It had distinct wet and dry periods that influenced vegetation growth and water availability. This diverse habitat supported a wide variety of plant life, including ferns, conifers, and flowering plants, providing ample food sources for large herbivores like Bustingorrytitan.

As a herbivore, Bustingorrytitan primarily fed on high vegetation, utilizing its long neck to reach leaves and branches that were out of reach for smaller herbivores. Its peg-like teeth were adapted for stripping vegetation, making it an efficient feeder. Moving on four sturdy legs, it was likely slow but capable of covering large areas in search of food. The dinosaur’s massive size and powerful build would have deterred most predators, contributing to its survival.

Socially, Bustingorrytitan may have lived in herds, a behavior common among sauropods for protection and social interaction. Herding would have provided safety in numbers, particularly against large predators that roamed the same region. The dinosaur’s keen senses, including sharp vision and possibly a good sense of smell, would have helped it detect food and danger.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

The information in this article is based on various sources, drawing on scientific research, fossil evidence, and expert analysis. The aim is to provide a comprehensive and accurate overview of Bustingorrytitan.

Article last fact checked: Joey Arboleda, 07–04-2024