Argyrosaurus: Research Database
Titanosauria (Sauropoda) · Late Cretaceous (~70-66 MYA) · South America — Argentina (Los Cardones Formation)
Research Note: Argyrosaurus was a titanosaurian sauropod from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina — one of the few known giant titanosaurs and an important taxon for understanding titanosaur evolution in South America.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Mannion & Otero 2012: Argyrosaurus and a new titanosaur from the Cretaceous of Argentina
Mannion & Otero 2012 provide comprehensive data on Argyrosaurus from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina, establishing it as a titanosaurian and documenting titanosaur diversity in the Cretaceous of South America
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Confirmed | A | 2012 | Fossil | Mannion & Otero, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | Taxonomy |
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García et al. 2012: Argyrosaurus and additional data on titanosaur systematics from the Cretaceous
García et al. 2012 provide additional data on Argyrosaurus and titanosaur systematics, further contextualising its significance within Titanosauria
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Confirmed | B | 2012 | Fossil | García et al., Cretaceous Research | Systematics |
Active Debate: Titanosaur Gigantism in the Cretaceous of South America
Whether titanosaurs like Argyrosaurus were among the largest land animals ever is debated. The evolution of titanosaur gigantism — and the ecological factors — is key to understanding sauropod history.
What We Still Do Not Know About Argyrosaurus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
- Body mass: Estimated giant size.
- Armor: Unknown.
In Depth
One of the many Cretaceous era South American titanosaurian sauropods, Argyrosaurus was also one of the first to be named. The holotype of Argyrosaurus is based upon a left forelimb with further post cranial remains being added to the genus later. However in at least one instance some of these additional fossils have been re-evaluated as being distinctly different, and in this case were split from Argyrosaurus.
Other dinosaurs active in South America during the Turonian period include other sauropods as well as theropods such as the abelisaur Ilokesia and the coelurosaur Bicentenaria.
Further Reading
– Contributions to a knowledge of the fossil vertebrates of Argentina. - R. Lydekker – 1893. – A reappraisal of the Late Cretaceous Argentinean sauropod dinosaur Argyrosaurus superbus, with a description of a new titanosaur genus – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 32 (3): 614–618 – P. D. Mannion & A. Otero – 2012.
