Andesaurus is a type of dinosaur that lived in South America around 99 to 97 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period. Its name means “Andes lizard,” reflecting where its fossils were found near the Andes mountains.
The dinosaur was discovered in 1991 by two scientists, Jorge Orlando Calvo and José Fernando Bonaparte. The only complete remains found include parts of the skeleton, such as some vertebrae from its back and tail, and pieces of bones from the pelvis and legs. These remains suggest that Andesaurus was a medium-sized sauropod, a group of dinosaurs known for being large and having long necks and tails.
Andesaurus is estimated to have been about 15 to 18 meters long, which is around 49 to 59 feet, and it is believed to have weighed about 7 metric tons. This dinosaur had a small head and, like other sauropods, a long neck and tail, making it quite an impressive sight.
The vertebrae, or backbone bones, of Andesaurus had some unique features. Some vertebrae had a special shape that helped tell scientists that this dinosaur belongs to a specific group called Titanosauria. This group includes various large dinosaurs, some of which are known to be gigantic.
Andesaurus lived in a region that used to be part of a large river system, and fossils of other dinosaurs like Giganotosaurus and Limaysaurus have also been found in the same area, suggesting that Andesaurus shared its environment with other remarkable creatures of the time.
Overall, Andesaurus is a fascinating dinosaur that helps us understand more about life on Earth millions of years ago.