Maxakalisaurus Facts
Pronunciation: max-ah-KAH-lee-SORE-us
Name meaning: Maxakali Lizard (named after the Maxakali people)
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 3m |
| Length | 13m |
| Weight | 9 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | Brazil |
Maxakalisaurus was a massive sauropod dinosaur that roamed the ancient landscapes of what is now Brazil during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 83.6 million years ago. This impressive herbivore belonged to a group of sauropods called titanosaurs, which were among the largest land animals ever to have lived on Earth. The dinosaur's name honours the Maxakali people, an indigenous Brazilian tribe, with 'Topa' referring to one of their important divinities.
Measuring around 13 metres in length and standing about 3 metres tall at the hip, Maxakalisaurus was a sizeable creature that would have weighed approximately 9 tonnes. Like other sauropods, it possessed the characteristic long neck and tail, along with a relatively small head compared to its enormous body. Its four pillar-like legs supported its massive frame as it moved slowly through the prehistoric Brazilian forests and plains.
As a herbivore, Maxakalisaurus spent much of its time feeding on the abundant plant life of the Late Cretaceous period. Its long neck allowed it to reach vegetation at various heights, from ground-level ferns to tall conifer trees. The dinosaur's peg-like teeth were perfectly adapted for stripping leaves and soft plant material, which it would then swallow without chewing, relying on gastroliths (stomach stones) to help break down the tough plant fibres in its digestive system.
What made Maxakalisaurus distinctive?
Maxakalisaurus had the typical sauropod body plan with a very long neck and tail, small head, and massive body supported by four thick legs. As a titanosaur, it likely possessed some degree of body armour in the form of small bony plates or osteoderms embedded in its skin, though the exact arrangement is not fully known from the available fossils.
Behaviour
Maxakalisaurus likely lived in herds, moving slowly through Late Cretaceous Brazilian landscapes in search of suitable vegetation. These gentle giants would have used their extremely long necks to browse on treetops and reach food sources that other herbivores couldn't access, potentially engaging in neck-to-neck combat with rivals during mating seasons.
Discovery
Maxakalisaurus was first described by Alexander Kellner and Diogenes de Almeida Campos in 2006. The original fossils were discovered at Adamantina Formation, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Maxakalisaurus FAQ
What did Maxakalisaurus eat?
Maxakalisaurus was a herbivore that fed on a variety of
Late Cretaceous plants including ferns, conifers, and flowering plants. It used its long neck to reach vegetation at different heights and had peg-like teeth for stripping leaves, which it swallowed whole and processed using stomach stones called gastroliths.
How big was Maxakalisaurus?
Maxakalisaurus measured approximately 13 metres in length and stood about 3 metres tall at the hip. It weighed an estimated 9 tonnes, making it a sizeable member of the titanosaur group, though not the largest sauropod ever discovered.
When did Maxakalisaurus live?
Maxakalisaurus lived during the
Late Cretaceous period, approximately 83.6 million years ago. This was towards the end of the age of dinosaurs, about 17 million years before the mass extinction event that ended the Cretaceous period.
Where was Maxakalisaurus found?
Maxakalisaurus fossils were discovered in the Adamantina Formation in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The fossils were first found in 1998, making this dinosaur an important addition to our understanding of South American prehistoric life.
How do you pronounce Maxakalisaurus?
Maxakalisaurus is pronounced 'max-ah-KAH-lee-SORE-us'. The name can be broken down into parts: 'Maxakali' (referring to the indigenous Brazilian people) and 'saurus' (meaning lizard in Greek).
What does Maxakalisaurus mean?
Maxakalisaurus means 'Maxakali Lizard', named in honour of the Maxakali people, an indigenous tribe from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais where the fossils were discovered. The species name 'topai' refers to Topa, one of their important divinities.
How fast could Maxakalisaurus run?
Like other large sauropods, Maxakalisaurus was not built for speed. Its massive size and body structure suggest it moved relatively slowly, probably walking at speeds similar to modern elephants - likely no faster than 5-8 kilometres per hour at a comfortable pace.
What type of dinosaur was Maxakalisaurus?
Maxakalisaurus was a sauropod dinosaur, specifically a member of the titanosaur family (Titanosauridae). Sauropods were long-necked, herbivorous dinosaurs that walked on four legs, and titanosaurs were particularly widespread during the Cretaceous period.
Was Maxakalisaurus related to birds?
As a sauropod, Maxakalisaurus belonged to the saurischian ('lizard-hipped') group of dinosaurs, which does include the ancestors of modern birds. However, sauropods were not closely related to the theropod dinosaurs that directly gave rise to birds, so the relationship is quite distant.
How many Maxakalisaurus fossils have been found?
The fossils of Maxakalisaurus represent one of the most complete titanosaur skeletons found in Brazil, though specific details about the number of individual specimens discovered are not widely reported. The original find in 1998 provided enough material for scientists to formally describe and name the species in 2006.
