Archeologists in Argentina have unearthed the remains of what is believed to be the largest known creature ever to set foot on Earth.
According to CNN, the fossil fragments likely belong to a titanosaur, a diverse group of sauropods that are characterized by their gargantuan size, elongated neck and tail, and four-legged stance. Complex reports that the brontosaurus is probably the most popularly known dinosaur of the group.
On Saturday, the U.K.-based publication New Scientist posted an artist’s depiction of titanosaurs on Twitter.
While titanosaur fossils have been discovered in nearly every continent on earth, they are are particularly prevalent in Patagonia, where this latest type was uncovered, Complex reports.
A recent study published in Cretaceous Research reveals that experts believe the newly discovered creature to be “one of the largest sauropods ever found,” possibly eclipsing the Patagotitan, a species that measured up to 122 feet long and weight up to 77 tons, CNN reports.
Alejandro Otero, paleontologist at Argentina’s Museo de La Plata, recently told CNN via email:
“It is a huge dinosaur, but we expect to find much more of the skeleton in future field trips, so we’ll have the possibility to address with confidence how really big it was.”
Researchers do not believe the creature belongs to a new species of dinosaur, CNN reports, although they have yet to assign the fossils to a specific genus.