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Context

Scientists discover massive long-necked dinosaur 'titan' in Spain.

Details

Discovery of Garumbatitan morellensis

• The dinosaur species, Garumbatitan morellensis, was discovered in Spain, near the city of Morella.
• The fossil remains of this dinosaur were found during excavations at the Sant Antoni de la Vespa fossil site, which took place between 2005 and 2008.
• The newly described species lived approximately 122 million years ago during the Lower Cretaceous period.

Characteristics of Garumbatitan morellensis

• Garumbatitan morellensis belonged to the Titanosaur group, a subgroup of sauropods known for their massive size.
• Sauropods are characterized by their long necks, long tails, small heads, and four thick, pillar-like legs.
• During the excavation, researchers uncovered the remains of three individuals, including massive vertebrae, lengthy leg bones, and two near-complete sets of foot bones. This discovery is considered extremely rare for sauropods.

Titanosaurs

• Titanosaurs are known for being some of the heaviest sauropods, although they may not necessarily be the longest. The title of the longest sauropod is held by Supersaurus.
• Garumbatitan morellensis, while not the longest, was an average-sized Titanosaur.

Primitive Characteristics

• The bone shape of Garumbatitan morellensis suggests that it had primitive characteristics. This discovery could provide valuable insights into the evolution of large, long-necked dinosaurs.

Somphospondyli Subgroup

• Titanosaurs belong to the sub-group Somphospondyli, whose fossils have been found on continents worldwide.
• The article suggests that the discovery in Spain hints at the possibility that Europe may have been the origin of the Somphospondyli subgroup.

Conclusion

The discovery of Garumbatitan morellensis is significant because it adds to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of sauropod dinosaurs, particularly Titanosaurs, and their possible origins. It also highlights the importance of ongoing paleontological research in uncovering new information about Earth's ancient past.

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.   Which subgroup of sauropods did the recently discovered dinosaur species Garumbatitan morellensis belong to? A) Diplodocidae B) Titanosaur C) Brachiosauridae D) Stegosauridae Answer: B)