Tastavinsaurus is an extinct type of dinosaur that belongs to the large group known as sauropods. These dinosaurs lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 125 million years ago, in what is now Spain.
The name “Tastavinsaurus” comes from the Rio Tastavins in Spain, and the species is called Tastavinsaurus sanzi, named after the Spanish paleontologist José Luis Sanz.
Scientists found Tastavinsaurus from two main fossils, one from the Xert Formation and another from the Forcall Formation. Originally, it was thought to be a part of a group called somphospondylans. However, newer studies suggest it might also be related to another group called brachiosaurids.
These dinosaurs were quite large. Estimates say that Tastavinsaurus sanzi could reach lengths of around 16 meters, which is about 50 feet! Its weight was estimated to be around 8 tonnes, making it a heavy animal.
One interesting feature of Tastavinsaurus is in its legs. It had shorter shin bones compared to other similar dinosaurs. The tibia, which is the bone in the lower leg, was only about 55% the length of its femur, the upper leg bone.
Tastavinsaurus is part of a larger family that might include other dinosaurs like Cedarosaurus, Soriatitan, and Venenosaurus. These connections help scientists understand how different dinosaurs are related to one another.