| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 6m |
| Length | 31m |
| Weight | 55 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | Argentina |
Patagotitan was a colossal sauropod dinosaur that thundered across the ancient landscapes of Patagonia during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 113 million years ago. This massive herbivore represents one of the largest land animals that ever lived, stretching an incredible 31 metres from nose to tail and weighing an estimated 55 tonnes. The genus contains a single species, Patagotitan mayorum, known from remarkably complete remains of at least six young adult individuals discovered in Argentina's Cerro Barcino Formation.
Like other sauropods, Patagotitan possessed the classic long-necked body plan with a relatively small head, enormously long neck and tail, and four pillar-like legs to support its immense bulk. Its neck alone would have measured around 12 metres in length, allowing it to browse vegetation at heights unreachable by other herbivores of its time. The creature's body was supported by a robust backbone reinforced with air-filled bones, an adaptation that helped reduce weight whilst maintaining structural strength.
As a herbivore, Patagotitan would have spent most of its day feeding, using its long neck to strip leaves, ferns, and conifers from tall trees. Its peg-like teeth were designed for stripping vegetation rather than chewing, so it likely swallowed stones to help grind plant material in its massive gut. Initially thought to be the largest dinosaur ever discovered, more recent analysis suggests Patagotitan was similar in size to its massive relatives Argentinosaurus and Puertasaurus.
The discovery of multiple individuals together suggests these giants may have lived in herds, possibly migrating across vast distances in search of fresh vegetation to fuel their enormous appetites.
Patagotitan was distinguished by its truly gigantic size, with an exceptionally long neck that could reach heights of 12 metres or more. Its backbone featured distinctive air-filled vertebrae that helped reduce the animal's overall weight whilst maintaining strength. The creature possessed the typical sauropod body plan but scaled up to enormous proportions, with pillar-like legs and a relatively small head compared to its massive body.
Patagotitan likely lived in herds, as evidenced by the discovery of multiple individuals in the same location, suggesting social behaviour and possibly coordinated migration patterns. These giants would have been constantly feeding due to their enormous energy requirements, using their incredibly long necks to browse vegetation at various heights. Their sheer size would have provided protection from most predators, though young individuals may have stayed close to adults for safety.
Patagotitan has appeared in several recent documentaries about giant dinosaurs and has been featured in museum exhibitions worldwide, including a cast at the Natural History Museum in London.
Patagotitan was first described by José Carballido and colleagues in 2017. The original fossils were discovered at Cerro Barcino Formation, Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina.
