Uberabatitan is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period about 67 million years ago. It was discovered in Brazil, specifically in the region of Uberaba, Minas Gerais. The name “Uberabatitan” means “Uberaba titan,” referencing the location where its fossils were found.
This dinosaur belonged to a group of long-necked dinosaurs called sauropods. Uberabatitan is known from many bones, including parts of its neck, back, tail, and limbs. Scientists found these fossils in a rock formation known as the Serra da Galga Formation.
The main species of Uberabatitan is called Uberabatitan ribeiroi. It was named by two paleontologists, Leonardo Salgado and Ismar de Souza Carvalho, in 2008. The species name honors Luiz Carlos Borges Ribeiro for his support in paleontological research.
Fossils of Uberabatitan ribeiroi were discovered at a construction site along a highway. Over sixty bones have been unearthed, showing that at least five individuals of different sizes and ages lived there. This includes both younger and older dinosaurs.
Uberabatitan was large; estimates suggest it could grow up to 26 meters long, about the length of a basketball court. However, many of the discovered bones come from smaller individuals.
While scientists do not have the skull of Uberabatitan, it likely had a broad square-shaped snout, similar to other titanosaur species. The teeth that might belong to it were slender and sharp, perfect for eating plants.
Fossil studies have also shown that Uberabatitan had special features in its leg bones that help scientists understand its classification among dinosaurs.
Uberabatitan is thought to have had a growth pattern typical of sauropods. Young dinosaurs grew quickly, while as they aged, their growth rate slowed down.
Overall, Uberabatitan is an exciting find that helps paleontologists learn more about giant dinosaurs from the past.