| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 4m |
| Length | 15m |
| Weight | 12 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | South Korea |
Pukyongosaurus was a sauropod dinosaur that lived in what is now South Korea during the Early Cretaceous Period, approximately 145 to 100 million years ago. This long-necked giant represents one of the few sauropod discoveries from the Korean Peninsula, making it particularly significant for understanding dinosaur distribution in ancient Asia. However, the genus is considered a nomen dubium by many palaeontologists due to the fragmentary nature of its remains.
Known only from a series of vertebrae from the neck and back, Pukyongosaurus was originally thought to be closely related to Euhelopus, another Asian sauropod. More recent studies suggest it may have been a member of Somphospondyli, an advanced group of titanosauriform sauropods. Like other sauropods, it would have been a massive quadrupedal herbivore with a long neck and tail, estimated to have reached lengths of around 15 metres.
The distinguishing characteristics originally used to separate Pukyongosaurus from other sauropods have since been criticised by researchers. Some features are now known to be widespread among titanosauriforms, whilst others are considered too poorly preserved to be reliably evaluated. This has led to debates about whether Pukyongosaurus represents a valid distinct genus or should be considered an indeterminate titanosauriform.
Despite these taxonomic uncertainties, Pukyongosaurus remains important as evidence of sauropod diversity in Early Cretaceous Korea. The dinosaur would have inhabited a warm, humid environment with abundant plant life to support its enormous herbivorous appetite, browsing on conifers, ferns, and early flowering plants with its long neck.
Pukyongosaurus was distinguished by specific features in its vertebrae, though these characteristics are now considered either too widespread among sauropods or too poorly preserved to reliably identify the genus. The vertebrae show typical sauropod adaptations including air spaces that lightened the massive bone structure.
As a sauropod, Pukyongosaurus would have spent most of its time feeding, using its long neck to reach vegetation at various heights. Like other large sauropods, it likely lived in herds for protection and may have migrated seasonally in search of fresh feeding grounds.
Pukyongosaurus was first described by Dong Zhiming in 1999. The original fossils were discovered at Hasandong Formation, South Korea.
