The Futalognkosaurus was a titanosaurid sauropod that lived roughly 87 million years ago in what is now South America during the Upper Cretaceous period. It was one of the largest land animals ever to exist, with some estimates suggesting that it could reach lengths of over 100 feet. The Futalognkosaurus was a herbivore and would have likely fed on plants and leaves.
Key Facts
| Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Futalognkosaurus pronunciation | Foo-tah-lonk-oh-sore-us |
| What does Futalognkosaurus mean? | Giant Chief Lizard |
| Dinosaur type | Sauropod |
| On the menu | Herbivore |
| Length | 98 feet (30 meters) |
| Height | 49.6 feet (15 meters) |
| Weight | 65.000 lbs (30 tons) |
| Life expectancy | 70 years |
| Legs used to get around | Quadrupedal |
| Estimated top speed | 25 mph (40km/h) |
| When they lived | Upper Cretaceous |
| Where they have been found? | Argentina, Neuquén Province |
When & Where
This dinosaur was found in Argentina in 1907. The Futalognkosaurus was a gigantic sauropod, one of the largest animals ever living on Earth. It lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 100 million years ago. This means that it shared its environment with other famous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops.
Size & Weight
The average Futalognkosaurus was around 100 feet (30 meters) long and weighed around 23 tons (25 short tons). But like all dinosaurs, there was considerable variation in size among individuals. Some specimens may have been as long as 50 feet (15 meters) and weighed as much as 30 tons (33 short tons), while others were slightly smaller.
When it comes to weight, the Futalognkosaurus was one of the heaviest dinosaurs that ever lived. In fact, it was even heavier than some of the largest land animals alive today, such as elephants and rhinos. So how did this enormous dinosaur support its own weight? Thanks to its massive legs and hips, the Futalognkosaurus had a very wide stance, which helped distribute its weight evenly. Additionally, its long tail acted as a counterbalance, preventing it from tipping over.
Mobility & Diet
Despite its size and weight, the Futalognkosaurus was actually a nimble creature. It could reach speeds of up to 6 mph (10 km/h) and turn quickly, thanks to its flexible hips. You should also note that the Futalognkosaurus was a quadrupedal animal with four legs.
Regarding diet, the Futalognkosaurus was a large herbivore that solely survived on forest plants. But while it was a herbivore, it is thought to have been a very successful species.
Interesting Points
- The Futalognkosaurus was one of the largest land animals that ever lived, with some estimates putting it at over 100 feet long from nose to tail.
- The Futalognkosaurus closely resembled the Mendozasaurus and Puertasaurus. They all belong to a similar clade, Lognkosauria.
- They had a very flexible hip joint, which gave it greater mobility than other enormous dinosaurs.
Featured Image Credit: Nobu Tamura, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
