In an astonishing revelation, the colossal remains of a dinosaur have been uncovered in the backyard of a resident in Pombal City, Portugal. The ѕkeɩetoп, standing at an impressive 12 meters tall and stretching a whopping 25 meters in length, is now deemed the largest dinosaur ever discovered in Europe.
Believed to be a sauropod, a family of towering, herbivorous dinosaurs characterized by their extended necks and tails, this groundbreaking find holds monumental significance for scientific understanding. The discovery promises to provide invaluable insights into the evolution and biology of these awe-inspiring creatures that once roamed the Earth.
The excavation and analysis of the remains are being conducted by an international team of researchers, including experts from the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon. Sauropods, distinguished by their colossal size and four-legged stance, have long captured the fascination of paleontologists and enthusiasts alike.
The journey to this remarkable discovery began in 2017 when construction workers in Pombal stumbled upon fossil fragments in a backyard. Recognizing the potential significance of their find, the workers promptly alerted researchers, triggering an extensive excavation.
Portuguese paleontologists have since unveiled fossilized ѕkeɩetoп, notably showcasing the sauropod’s ribs still preserved in their original anatomical position. Elisabete Malafaia, a paleontologist involved in the project, expressed the rarity of such a find, stating, “It is not usual to find all the ribs of an animal like this, let alone in this position.”
The scientists working on the excavation project posit that the dinosaur foѕѕіɩѕ belong to the Brachiosauridae group. These colossal creatures inhabited the Earth between 160 to 100 million years ago, spanning the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous periods. The team has uncovered a substantial number of axial ѕkeɩetoп elements, hinting at the potential for more discoveries in the vicinity.
In an interview with CBS News, Elisabete emphasized the exceptional nature of the find, noting that the fossil ribs are the largest sauropod ribs ever discovered in Europe and rank among the largest globally.
With the well-preserved state of the ribs, researchers anticipate the possibility of unearthing additional parts of the ѕkeɩetoп in the proximity.
This monumental discovery not only enriches our understanding of prehistoric life but also underscores the importance of ongoing paleontological endeavors in unraveling Earth’s ancient mysteries.
