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saltasaurus: herbivore dinosaur from the Cretaceous era

Saltasaurus Facts

Pronunciation: salt-ah-SORE-us

Name meaning: Lizard from Salta

Diet	Herbivore
Height	3m
Length	12m
Weight	7 tonnes
Environment	Land
Era	Cretaceous
Period	Late Cretaceous
Type	Sauropod
Location	Argentina

Saltasaurus was a remarkable sauropod that lived in Argentina during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 72 million years ago. Unlike its massive relatives, this dinosaur was relatively small for a sauropod, measuring about 12 metres in length and standing 3 metres tall at the hip. What truly set Saltasaurus apart was its revolutionary discovery as the first sauropod known to possess body armour—a feature that completely changed our understanding of these gentle giants.

This herbivorous dinosaur had a distinctly compact build compared to other sauropods, with a notably short neck and stubby limbs that gave it a more robust appearance. Its most extraordinary feature was the collection of small, bony plates called osteoderms that were embedded directly in its skin, providing protection from predators. These armoured plates varied in size and were scattered across its back and sides, creating a natural shield.

Saltasaurus lived in the lush, subtropical environments of Late Cretaceous Argentina, where it browsed on ferns, conifers, and flowering plants using its long neck to reach vegetation at various heights. Despite its shorter neck compared to other sauropods, it could still access food sources unavailable to ground-level herbivores. The discovery of Saltasaurus fossils has been crucial in understanding the evolution of titanosaurian sauropods and has revealed that armoured sauropods were more common than previously thought.

What made Saltasaurus distinctive?

Saltasaurus was distinguished by its unique combination of small bony plates (osteoderms) embedded in its skin, making it the first armoured sauropod ever discovered. It had a notably short neck and stocky, stubby limbs compared to other sauropods, giving it a more compact and robust appearance.

Behaviour

Saltasaurus likely lived in herds for protection, using its armoured skin as defence against large predators like Abelisaurus. Its compact build suggests it may have been less migratory than other sauropods, possibly staying in favourable feeding areas for longer periods.

Fun Facts About Saltasaurus

Saltasaurus was the first sauropod ever discovered with bony armour plates in its skin, revolutionising our understanding of these dinosaurs.
The bony plates of Saltasaurus came in two sizes—larger plates about the size of a dinner plate and smaller pea-sized nodules scattered between them.
Saltasaurus had proportionally the shortest neck of any known sauropod relative to its body size.
The discovery of Saltasaurus armour led scientists to re-examine other sauropod fossils and find similar armour that had previously been overlooked.
Saltasaurus eggs have been found in large nesting sites, suggesting females may have returned to the same areas to lay their eggs year after year.

Discovery

Saltasaurus was first described by José Bonaparte and Jaime Powell in 1980. The original fossils were discovered at Salta Province, Argentina.

Saltasaurus FAQ

What did Saltasaurus eat?

Saltasaurus was a herbivore that fed on the plants available in Late Cretaceous Argentina, including ferns, conifers, and early flowering plants. It used its relatively short neck to browse at low to medium heights, stripping leaves and soft shoots from vegetation.

How big was Saltasaurus?

Saltasaurus was about 12 metres long and stood approximately 3 metres tall at the hip, weighing around 7 tonnes. This made it quite small by sauropod standards, though still much larger than any land animal alive today.

When did Saltasaurus live?

Saltasaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 72.2 million years ago. This was near the end of the age of dinosaurs, just before the mass extinction event that ended their reign.

Where was Saltasaurus found?

Saltasaurus fossils were discovered in Salta Province, Argentina, which is where the dinosaur gets its name. The fossils were found in rock formations that were once part of a subtropical environment with rivers and floodplains.

How do you pronounce Saltasaurus?

Saltasaurus is pronounced 'salt-ah-SORE-us', with the emphasis on the final syllable. The name is straightforward to say once you break it down into its three parts.

What does Saltasaurus mean?

Saltasaurus means 'lizard from Salta', named after Salta Province in Argentina where its fossils were discovered. Like all dinosaur names ending in '-saurus', it includes the Greek word for lizard.

How fast could Saltasaurus run?

The running speed of Saltasaurus is unknown, but its short, stubby legs suggest it was likely one of the slower sauropods. Its compact build was probably more suited to stability and defence rather than speed.

What type of dinosaur was Saltasaurus?

Saltasaurus was a sauropod dinosaur, specifically belonging to the family Saltasauridae. It was a long-necked herbivore that walked on four legs, though it was much smaller and more heavily armoured than typical sauropods.

Was Saltasaurus related to birds?

Saltasaurus was not closely related to birds. As a sauropod, it belonged to a different branch of the dinosaur family tree. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, whilst Saltasaurus was a member of the sauropod group.

How many Saltasaurus fossils have been found?

Several Saltasaurus specimens have been discovered since 1980, including bones from multiple individuals and numerous isolated armour plates. Fossils include parts of the skull, vertebrae, limb bones, and hundreds of the distinctive osteoderms that made this dinosaur famous.