Overview
- The fossils were recovered at La Invernada near Rincón de los Sauces, Neuquén, from rocks dated to about 83 million years ago.
- The holotype preserves six cervical vertebrae, ten dorsals with associated ribs, the sacrum, and the first caudal, allowing diagnosis from unique vertebral features.
- Researchers estimate the animal measured 10–12 meters long and weighed roughly 8–10 tonnes, with a proportionally small head, according to lead author Leonardo Filippi.
- The find was first reported by a Gendarmería officer in 2003 and excavated in 2013–2014 after road access improved with ExxonMobil’s support, with a crane used to lift heavy bones.
- Published in Historical Biology, the study involves multiple Argentine institutions, and additional specimens include a juvenile and another adult under study that could represent a different titanosaur.