DIN-WOAH!
Huge 6.5-FOOT thigh bone belonging to ‘world’s biggest dinosaur’ found in France – and it weighs 500 kilos
DINOSAUR hunters have uncovered a 6.5-foot thigh bone probably belonging to a giant sauropod in France.
The enormous femur was dug up in a fossil-rich area in Charente, and dates back 140million years.
8
8
Sauropods are the largest herbivorous dinosaurs known to date – and include diplodocus, brachiosaurus and brontosaurus.
They first appeared in the late Triassic Period, but this particular dino is from the Jurassic era.
It was discovered "nestled" in a thick layer of clay by volunteers from the National Museum of Natural History.
The bone itself weighs an incredible 500kg – just heavier than an average modern horse.
8
8
8
8
And it was discovered alongside a giant pelvis bone hidden within the same layer of clay.
Charente is best known for the town of Cognac – home to the brandy – but it's also a hotbed for fossils.
Palaeontologists have already uncovered around 7,500 bones from the site since 2010.
It's estimated that these bones are linked to as many as 45 different species of dinosaurs.
But the femur is the biggest bone uncovered from the site so far.
"This femur is huge! And in an exceptional state of conservation," said Jean-François Tournepiche, Angouleme Museum curator, speaking to .
"It's very moving," he added.
Experts believe that the femur likely belonged to a sauropod, which is one biggest dinosaurs ever to roam Earth.
The world-famous class of dinos are identified by their long necks and plant-based diets.
And the bone itself still provides important details that only a trained eye would spot.
"We can see the insertions of muscles and tendons, scars," explained Ronan Allain, a palaeontologist at Paris' National Museum of Natural History.
"This is a very rare find as large pieces tend to collapse on themselves, to fragment."
8
8
What is a sauropod?
Here's what you need to know...
- Sauropod is the name for a class of dinosaurs
- They're known for having very long necks, long tails, relatively small heads and four thick legs
- But their most famous feature is their size: sauropods could grow to lengths of 112 feet
- Even dwarf sauropods would still grow as large as 20 feet long
- Sauropod genera include Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus, Apatosaurus, Brontosaurus, and Mamenchisaurus
- They first appeared towards the end of the triassic Period, and then into the Jurassic period (200 million years ago)
- And it's believed that they were widespread around 150million years ago
- Sauropods are thought to have died out around 145 million years ago
- Their remains have been found on every continent, including Antarctica
Palaeontologists are now working to piece together a complete sauropod skeleton.
This will be made from bones unearthed across the site.
The team says that the reconstruction is now 50% complete, but progress depends on how quickly the remaining bones can be discovered, identified and added into the skeleton.
MOST READ IN SCIENCE
Earlier this year, palaeontologists uncovered a feathered flying dinosaur with long fingers and wings like a bat.
The first feather fossil ever found was linked to the ‘wrong bird’ for 150 years, but really belongs to mystery dinosaur.
And, scientists have identified a relative of the Tyrannosaurus rex which is only 3ft tall.
What's your favourite dinosaur? Let us know in the comments!
Feathered flying dinosaur with 'very long fingers' and wings like a BAT found in China is first of its kind
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
Topics