Sauropodomorph Tooth Discovered in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima
2014-02-15
It has been revealed that a fossil of a sauropodomorph was discovered in Late Cretaceous strata (about 80 million years ago) on Shimo-Koshiki Island in Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture. It was reportedly "found during an excavation survey in November 2012."
The discovery was a slender, conical tooth, 17 mm long and 5 mm in diameter. The tip of the tooth showed wear from occlusion. The National Museum of Nature and Science, which identified the fossil, estimates it belonged to a sauropodomorph about 10 meters long.
Since a fossil of a marginocephalian ceratopsid was also found in the same strata during a 2011 survey, it is suggested that the area was inhabited by many dinosaurs.
World's Largest Dinosaur Discovered in Argentina
2014-05-31
The world's largest dinosaur fossil has been discovered in Late Cretaceous strata (95 million years ago) in Argentina, South America.
It is estimated to be 40 meters long and weigh 80 tons. Its weight is equivalent to 14 or 15 African elephants. It is a member of the Sauropodomorpha-Titanosauria group.
The fossil was discovered by a local worker in the desert west of Trelew in the Patagonia region. A team of experts from the Egidio Feruglio Paleontological Museum has been excavating since January 2013. So far, about 150 fossils have been unearthed.
During the Cretaceous period, Argentina appears to have been home to many super-large dinosaurs, such as Argentinosaurus and Giganotosaurus.