Continent: South America

Dinosaurs of South America

Preserved within the Huincul, Candeleros, and Ischigualasto formations, hosting colossal titanosaurs and specialized abelisaurid and carcharodontosaurid apex predators.

Cataloged Specimens from South America (11 total)

Sauropodomorpha

Cretaceous PeriodHerbivore

Amargasaurus

Amargasaurus cazaui Salgado & Bonaparte, 1991

A striking, double-sailed dicraeosaurid sauropod from Argentina sporting parallel rows of tall neck spines.

8.5–10 m (27.9–32.8 ft)

2.5–4.0 metric tons (5,512–8,818 lbs)

Featured SpecimenSauropodomorpha

Cretaceous PeriodHerbivore

Argentinosaurus

Argentinosaurus huinculensis Bonaparte & Coria, 1993

Among the largest and most massive terrestrial animals known to science, with scaled estimates reaching 65 to 80 metric tons based on fragmentary titanosaur remains.

30–35 m (98.4–114.8 ft)

65.0–80.0 metric tons (143,300–176,370 lbs)

Theropoda

Cretaceous PeriodCarnivore

Carnotaurus

Carnotaurus sastrei Bonaparte, 1985

A bizarre South American abelisaurid predator with bull-like cranial horns, vestigial forelimbs, and extreme cursorial speed.

7.5–8.5 m (24.6–27.9 ft)

1.3–2.1 metric tons (2,866–4,630 lbs)

Sauropodomorpha

Cretaceous PeriodHerbivore

Dreadnoughtus

Dreadnoughtus schrani Lacovara et al., 2014

The 'fearing nothing' super-titanosaur from Argentina, with the most complete skeleton of any giant titanosaur.

24–26 m (78.7–85.3 ft)

35.0–49.0 metric tons (77,162–108,026 lbs)

Sauropodomorpha

Triassic PeriodOmnivore

Eoraptor

Eoraptor lunensis Sereno et al., 1993

A diminutive Late Triassic dinosaur from Argentina whose phylogenetic position between basal Theropoda and stem-Sauropodomorpha has been extensively debated.

0.9–1.2 m (3.0–3.9 ft)

4–8 kg (9–18 lbs)

Theropoda

Cretaceous PeriodCarnivore

Giganotosaurus

Giganotosaurus carolinii Coria & Salgado, 1995

A titanic South American carcharodontosaurid apex carnivore rivaling Tyrannosaurus in overall body length.

12.2–13 m (40.0–42.7 ft)

7.0–8.8 metric tons (15,432–19,401 lbs)

Theropoda

Triassic PeriodCarnivore

Herrerasaurus

Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis Reig, 1963

An early predatory dinosaur from the Late Triassic Ischigualasto Formation of Argentina whose precise phylogenetic position near the root of Saurischia remains debated.

3–4.5 m (9.8–14.8 ft)

180–350 kg (397–772 lbs)

Theropoda

Cretaceous PeriodCarnivore

Mapusaurus

Mapusaurus roseae Coria & Currie, 2006

A colossal South American carcharodontosaurid discovered in a massive multi-individual bonebed.

11.5–12.6 m (37.7–41.3 ft)

4.0–5.5 metric tons (8,818–12,125 lbs)

Sauropodomorpha

Cretaceous PeriodHerbivore

Patagotitan

Patagotitan mayorum Carballido et al., 2017

One of the most colossal land animals ever discovered, reaching 37 meters in length and weighing over 55 metric tons.

35–37.5 m (114.8–123.0 ft)

50.0–65.0 metric tons (110,231–143,300 lbs)

Sauropodomorpha

Triassic PeriodHerbivore

Riojasaurus

Riojasaurus incertus Bonaparte, 1969

A heavy, quadrupedal Late Triassic sauropodomorph from Argentina with dense limb bones.

6–10 m (19.7–32.8 ft)

1.5–3.0 metric tons (3,307–6,614 lbs)

Theropoda

Triassic PeriodCarnivore

Staurikosaurus

Staurikosaurus pricei Colbert, 1970

An early predatory dinosaur from the Late Triassic Santa Maria Formation of Brazil, often placed within Herrerasauridae with debated phylogenetic affinities.

2–2.5 m (6.6–8.2 ft)

25–40 kg (55–88 lbs)