| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 5m |
| Length | 15m |
| Weight | 12 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | Madagascar |
Vahiny depereti was a massive sauropod dinosaur that roamed the ancient landscapes of Madagascar during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 72 million years ago. This impressive herbivore belonged to a group of dinosaurs known as titanosaurs, which were among the largest land animals ever to walk the Earth. Vahiny lived in what is now northwestern Madagascar, sharing its environment with other remarkable creatures including predatory theropods and armoured crocodylomorphs.
Like other sauropods, Vahiny possessed the characteristic long neck and tail, four pillar-like legs, and a relatively small head compared to its enormous body. Its lengthy neck would have allowed it to browse vegetation at various heights, from ground-level ferns to the tops of tall conifer trees. The dinosaur's massive size would have provided protection from most predators, though it likely still faced threats from large carnivorous dinosaurs that shared its habitat.
As a herbivore, Vahiny spent much of its time feeding on the diverse plant life of Late Cretaceous Madagascar. Its teeth were designed for stripping leaves rather than chewing, so it would have swallowed stones to help grind up plant material in its stomach. The discovery of Vahiny has provided valuable insights into the unique dinosaur fauna that evolved on Madagascar after it separated from other landmasses, showing how isolated populations developed their own distinct characteristics.
Vahiny possessed the typical sauropod body plan with a long neck, lengthy tail, and massive quadrupedal stance. Its skull features and vertebral characteristics distinguish it from other titanosaurs, though the fragmentary nature of the remains means many specific details about its appearance remain uncertain.
Vahiny likely lived in small herds and spent most of its time foraging for vegetation across the Late Cretaceous landscapes of Madagascar. Like other sauropods, it would have swallowed gastroliths (stomach stones) to aid digestion and may have migrated seasonally in search of food and water sources.
Vahiny was first described by Kristina Curry Rogers and colleagues in 2009. The original fossils were discovered at Maevarano Formation, northwestern Madagascar.
