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Photos: Long-Necked Titanosaur Had Tiny Brain, Good Vision
Adding to our history
Paleontologists are practically giddy with the discovery of a new dinosaur skull. The skull belongs to newly identified titanosaur (sarmientosaurus musacchioi), an incredibly long-necked and long-tailed dinosaur that lived about 95 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.
Titanosaurs were giants with tiny heads, but their heads rarely fossilized, the researchers told Live Science. The new finding provides amazing insights into the brains, hearing and vision of these enormous herbivorous beasts, they said. [Read the Story on the Titanosaur Skull]
High-tech research
Using modern technology, the team reconstructed the skull, brain and eye of Sarmientosaurus musacchio. At left is a semitransparent view of the skull revealing the size and placement of the brain inside. The brain rendering sits in the center. On the right, the digitally rendered skull shows the eyeballs and associated muscles.
Prize finding
Rubén Martínez (right), and Matt Lamanna (left) pose with the skull and neck bones of the newfound titanosaurian dinosaur species Sarmientosaurus musacchioi in Martínez’s lab in Comodor Rivadavia.
Treasure map
A map showing where the paleontologists discovered the fossils in Patagonia, Argentina.
How they lived
In this illustration, two examples of the newfound titanosaurian dinosaur species Sarmientosaurus musacchioi search for food in their habitat in southern Chubot Province, in Patagonia, Argentina.
Releasing the monster
Rubén Martínez (center), the study leader, works with students and technicians from the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco in Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, at the dig site in southern Chubut Province to unearth the skull and neck of the new titanosaurian dinosaur species Sarmientosaurus musacchioi.
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Original condition
When found in southern Chubut Province, Argentina, the skull of the new titanosaurian dinosaur species was inverted.
Digital comparison
The illustration here allows for a comparison of the digitally rendered skull with the artist's conception of the new titanosaurian dinosaur species Sarmientosaurus musacchioi.
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