Scientists have recently uncovered a brand new dinosaur species in Argentina. The dinosaur is a Bicharracosaurus dionidei, which measures about 65 feet long. While it is not the longest dinosaur ever recorded, about 231 feet, it is still impressive, and the finding of this new dinosaur offers the scientists a new look into dino evolution in the Southern Hemisphere. 

During the dig, scientists were able to discover over 30 pieces of the Bicharracosaurs’ vertebrae from its tail, back and neck. In addition they also found part of its ribs and pelvis. While it is not the whole dino, it is still a significant part of it. With the fossils they had the scientists were able to discover that the dino lived over 155 million years ago and lived to be an adult. It is considered a sauropod due to its long neck.

Through research the scientists were able to discover that the dino was related to the Brachiosauridae family, which makes it the first Brachiosauridae from the Jurassic period, 201-145 million years ago, to be in South America. With that information they were able to reconsider their understanding of the animals and how they evolved in the Southern Hemisphere, (Prof. Oliver Rauhut of the Bavarian State Collections of Natural History).

The knowledge of how sauropods have evolved during the Jurassic age has been mostly from fossils in North America and in sites in the Northern Hemisphere, (LMU doctoral student Alexandra Reutter). This is really significant because there is only one other really important dig site in the Southern Hemisphere, which is in Tanzania.

These fossils were actually discovered on a shepherd’s farm, Dionide Mesa; so the species was named after him to honor his finding that helped gain a deeper understanding of these creatures.The discovery of the Bicharracosaurus dionidei is an exciting discovery, but it also is a reminder the age of the dinosaur still hold so many secrets that are waiting to be told.