The Largest Dinosaur Ever Discovered

The title of "largest dinosaur" is often debated because it depends on whether you mean heaviest, longest, or tallest, and how complete the fossil remains are. However, based on the most complete fossil evidence available, the dinosaur generally considered the largest (most massive) ever found is Patagotitan mayorum.

Discovered in Patagonia, Argentina, Patagotitan was a long-necked, long-tailed herbivore (a sauropod) that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 100 to 95 million years ago. Estimates based on its extensive fossil record suggest it weighed around 55-70 metric tons (121,000-154,000 pounds), was about 37 meters (122 feet) long, and stood approximately 6 meters (20 feet) tall at the shoulder. Its sheer bulk makes it the current record holder for the heaviest land animal known to science.

While Patagotitan holds the record for mass with good fossil support, other sauropods are contenders for different metrics:

• Argentinosaurus huinculensis: Also from Argentina, this sauropod might have been even heavier than Patagotitan, with some estimates reaching up to 100 tons. However, its fossil record is less complete, making precise size estimates more challenging.
• Supersaurus vivianae: This North American sauropod is a strong contender for the longest dinosaur, with estimates suggesting it could reach lengths of over 39 meters (128 feet), primarily due to its exceptionally long neck and tail.

Pro tip: When you hear about a "new largest dinosaur," always check if the claim is based on a single bone or a more complete skeleton. More complete fossils allow for much more accurate and reliable size estimations.