Huge titanosaur makes American Museum of Natural History debut


Published January 15, 2016
· FoxNews.com


Visitors to the American Museum of Natural History examine a replica
of a 122-foot-long dinosaur on display. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Visitors to the American Museum of Natural History examine a replica
of a 122-foot-long dinosaur on display. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)


The American Museum of Natural History in New York has unveiled a new
gigantic dinosaur exhibit, squeezing a 122-foot-long titanosaur cast
into the famous building.

The dinosaur, which has not yet been formally named, was unveiled
Thursday. Paleontologists think that that the giant herbivore weighed
in at around 70 tons – as much as 10 African elephants. The titanosaur
is too large even for the museum’s gallery, with part of its 39-foot
neck extending out towards the building’s elevator banks.

Related: Bones of hunted mammoth show early human presence in Arctic

The skeleton’s ‘bones’ are lightweight 3D prints made of fibreglass.

The huge cast was built over six months by Ontario, Canada-based
Research Casting International and Argentina’s Museo Paleontológico
Egidio Feruglio. The titanosaur is based on 84 fossil bones that were
excavated in the remote Argentine region of Patagonia in 2014.
Scientists have discovered a total of 223 fossil bones from six
individuals at the site, according to the American Museum of Natural
History, including a colossal 8-foot femur.

Related: Mysterious 'Hobbit' relative may have lived on isolated
island

The paleontologists were told about the site by a local rancher in
2012, and made several trips there over the next 18 months.

Fossils from the original discovery on temporary display with the
titanosaur cast include the femur and forelimb.

Related: Fossil of massive crocodile found on edge of Sahara desert

“We are pleased to present this awe-inspiring exhibit as yet another
icon in an inspiring journey of discovery that the Museum offers
throughout its galleries,” said American Museum of Natural History
President Ellen Futter, in a statement. “While the titanosaur itself
is ancient, it nevertheless embodies and reflects the very modern,
dynamic, and thrilling state of paleontology today.”


http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/01/15/huge-titanosaur-makes-american-museum-natural-history-debut.html

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: news@netfront.net ---

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)