The “age of dinosaurs,” officially known as the Mesozoic Era, lasted from 252 to 66 million years ago. Scientists believe that period ended when an asteroid hit Earth. This spread vaporized minerals into the air around the globe, in effect creating a lasting winter that made plant growth impossible. Most animal life, deprived of food, was extinguished. (These are 17 cataclysmic events that changed the earth forever.)
Expert observations about the period, particularly about the size and type of dinosaurs, have changed over decades, particularly as new fossils are discovered. These discoveries are so frequent now that the Smithsonian publishes “The Top Ten Dinosaur Discoveries” each and every year. To date, though, the largest dinosaur in history is the Argentinosaurus.
Last year, a team of researchers with Naturales y Museo, Universidad de Zaragoza, and Universidad Nacional del Comahue found evidence that a so-called titanosaur discovered in Argentina in 2012 was the largest dinosaur in history. It was named Argentinosaurus in honor of its place of discovery. (Today, this is the biggest animal in the world.)
There is some confusion as to whether “size” should be determined by weight or length, but the Argentinosaurus has it covered on both counts: It measures 131 feet in length and weighs 110 tons – 220,000 pounds.
Click here to see the largest dinosaurs in history
The candidate for the largest dinosaur could change again. According to Discovery, the British paleontologist Mary Ann Mantell was the first person to find fossilized bones while she was on a walk in 1822. If humans remain on earth as long as dinosaurs did, there is bound to be another discovery that adds to the long list of “largest dinosaurs”.
Source: borchee / Getty Images
15. Shingopana songwensis
> Length: 26 feet
> Weight: 5.5 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: Tanzania
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
14. Saltasaurus
> Length: 42 feet
> Weight: 7.7-8 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: Argentina
Source: walbyent / iStock via Getty Images
13. Spinosaurus
> Length: 41-59 feet
> Weight: 10 tons
> Diet: Carnivorous
> Fossils found in: Egypt
12. Rapetosaurus krausei
> Length: 49 feet
> Weight: 16 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: Madagascar
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Source: CoreyFord / iStock via Getty Images
11. Diplodocus longus
> Length: 80 feet
> Weight: 16.3 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: North America
10. Elaltitan lilloi
> Length: 59 feet
> Weight: 60 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: Argentina
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Source: dottedhippo / iStock via Getty Images
9. Brachiosaurus Altithorax
> Length: 59-69 feet
> Weight: 62 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: North America
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
8. Giraffatitan brancai
> Length: 74 feet
> Weight: 37.5 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: Tanzania
Source: Yuri de Mesquita Bar / iStock via Getty Images
7. Austroposeidon magnificus
> Length: 82 feet
> Weight: 30-32 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: Brazil
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6. Turiasaurus riodevensis
> Length: 118-128 feet
> Weight: 40-48 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: Spain
5. Futalognkosaurus dukei
> Length: 102-112 feet
> Weight: 42-50 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: Argentina
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4. Dreadnoughtus
> Length: 85 feet
> Weight: 65.4 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: Argentina
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
3. Sauroposeidon proteles
> Length: 111 feet
> Weight: 55-66 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: North America
2. Paralititan
> Length: 100 feet
> Weight: 83 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: Egypt
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Source: CoreyFord / iStock via Getty Images
1. Argentinosaurus
> Length: 131 feet
> Weight: 110 tons
> Diet: Herbivorous
> Fossils found in: Argentina
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