Amargasaurus Size report

Amargasaurus (scientific name: Amargasaurus cazaui) is a small to medium-sized sauropod dinosaur that lived in South America during the Cretaceous period. It was a quadruped vegetarian dinosaur with a long flattened skull and long neck, similar to its relative Dichrosaurus. However, it was taller than other sauropods, with two rows of long spines on the back of its neck.

Amargalosaurus was named in 1991 by Argentine paleontologists Leonardo Salgado and Jose Bonaparte because its fossils were discovered in the La Amarga Canyon in the province of Neuquén, Argentina.

Long necks and long tails generally characterize sauropods. Archaeologists have even found fossils with necks as long as four times the length of the torso. However, Amargalosaurus' neck was about 1.3 times as long as its torso. Compared with other sauropods, the neck is short. Let's find out more interesting facts about Amargasaurus, such as the average size, living habits, etc.

Amargasaurus Size And Appearance

The fossil of Amargalosaurus is a relatively complete skeleton; the most obvious feature of its skeleton is the high spines on the neck and back spine. Based on known archaeological discoveries and scientific research, it can be inferred that Amargalosaurus lived in South America. Their heads are long and flat, and their necks are long; the most peculiar thing about their bodies is that there are a pair of very long nerve spines from the neck to the back, completely covered by skin and flesh to form a pair of neck sails. Amargalosaurus is a herbivorous dinosaur that walks on all fours and likes to eat leaves while walking. Their long tails are used for balance while walking and as weapons.

Average Size of Amargasaurus

While Amargasaurus was a large size among land animals, it was short in length for a sauropod. Argentinosaurus has an overall body length of 9-10 meters and a standing height of 2-2.5 meters. From its skeletal structure, it can be inferred that Amargasaurus had a long tail, neck, and barrel-shaped trunk. It weighs about 2,500-3,000 kilograms. The typical lifespan of Amargasaurus was between 25-35 years.

Final Words

There are different hypotheses about the function of the neck sail, such as self-defense, communication, or temperature control. But so far, people still don't figure out its real function. In 2022, scientists conducted a detailed re-study of the cervical vertebrae of Amargasaurus, and they found that: No matter from the perspective of histology or anatomical shape, the cervical spine of Amargasaurus did not support the existence of a horny sheath. It is believed that with the discovery of more fossils, people will gradually unlock the secrets of this sauropod dinosaur.