Enormous dinosaur found inside a museum
Scientists have discovered an incredibly long dinosaur … and they’ve named him Max.
An enormous new species of dinosaur that could strip entire branches from trees with its ginormous ‘peg-like’ teeth has been discovered by scientists.
Nicknamed Max, the gentle giant was 30 metres long and weighed at least 15 tonnes — making it one of the largest beasts to ever walk the Earth.
Palaeontologists believe Max, who lived in Wyoming about 150 million years ago, used its nine metre-long neck to reach the most succulent leaves.
Officially called Galeamopus pabsti, he strongly resembled a Diplodocus and had the similar signature tail that could be swung like a whip.
He also had a small head and four thick, pillar like legs that supported its massive body, just like its sauropod relatives.
Sauropods are very large four-legged herbivorous — or vegetarian — dinosaurs with a long neck and tail, small head and massive limbs.
Max had actually been part of an exhibition at the Sauriermuseum Aathal Museum in Switzerland for several years, but new analysis by researchers from Italy and Portugal found that it was an entirely new species.
Massive dinosaur thought to be discovered.Source:Supplied
Dr Emanuel Tschopp, of the University of Turin, said the new diplodocid is “represented by material from all body parts but the tail.”
He said: “Diplodocids are among the best known sauropod dinosaurs. Numerous specimens of currently 15 accepted species belonging to ten genera have been reported from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous of North and South America, Europe, and Africa.
“The highest diversity is known from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of the western United States: a recent review recognised 12 valid, named species, and possibly three additional, yet unnamed ones.”
Diplodocid sauropods are among the most iconic dinosaurs, known for their swooping necks.
Species of this group have also been found in Africa, South America, and Europe, but the richest diversity is found in the US.
More than 15 species of these gigantic animals have been unearthed there, also including the famous Brontosaurus.
The world’s largest dinosaur footprint was recently discovered Down Under — and it’s as big as a man.
This article originally appeared on The Sun.
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