| Turiasaurus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mounted replica skeleton | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | †Sauropodomorpha |
| Clade: | †Sauropoda |
| Clade: | †Turiasauria |
| Genus: | †Turiasaurus Royo Torres et al. 2006 |
| Species: | †T. riodevensis |
| Binomial name | |
| †Turiasaurus riodevensis Royo Torreset al. 2006 | |
Turiasaurus (meaning "Turia lizard") is a genus ofsauropoddinosaurs. It is known from a single fossil specimen representing the speciesTuriasaurus riodevensis, found in theKimmeridgianVillar del Arzobispo Formation of Teruel,Spain.
Turiasaurus is believed to be thelargest dinosaur ever found in Europe, and is among the largest dinosaurs known. It was originally estimated at over 30 metres (98 ft), possibly around 36–39 metres (118–128 ft) in length and with a weight of 40–48 t (44–53 short tons).[1] More recent estimates suggest a length of 21–30 metres (69–98 ft) in length, but a comparable weight of 30–50 t (33–55 short tons).[2][3] The length of its skull is 70 centimetres, which is not too large. According to thepaleontologistLuis Alcalá, this is because a larger head might have causedTuriasaurus to break its neck.[4]
Phylogenetic analysis shows thatTuriasaurus lies outside of theNeosauropoda division and belongs to a new clade,Turiasauria, together withLosillasaurus andGalvesaurus.[1]
Fragmentary remains of this animal, including an articulated left forelimb (holotype), skull fragments, teeth, vertebrae and ribs, have been found in terrestrial deposits of the Villar del Arzobispo Formation of Riodeva (Teruel Province,Spain). A forelimb from Portugal[5] is now seen asZby atlanticus.[6] The type species,Turiasaurus riodevensis, was formally described by Royo-Torres, Cobos & Alcala, in 2006.[1] In the early 2010s, excavations were made east ofMadrid that uncovered the most complete fossil of such creatures in the whole world.[7]
