Sibirotitan is a fascinating type of dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, specifically in the Barremian age.
This dinosaur was discovered in the Ilek Formation in Russia. The fossils include bones and teeth that were found near the Kiya River, close to a village called Shestakovo.
The first dinosaur remains were discovered in 1953, and more complete fossils were found in the 1960s. By 2018, researchers, led by Alexander Averianov, officially named and described this dinosaur. The name Sibirotitan means “Siberian titan,” referring to its location and the large size implied by the term “titan.”
The specific name S. astrosacralis means “star sacred bone” because of the star-like way its sacral bones are arranged when viewed from above.
Sibirotitan is interesting because it might be one of the oldest known relatives of a group called Titanosauriformes, which includes many large long-necked dinosaurs. The fossils suggest that Sibirotitan was about the same size as the famous dinosaur Apatosaurus, weighing around 20 tons.
Scientists found two unique features that set Sibirotitan apart from other dinosaurs. First, it had a very high ridge on its back vertebrae. Second, it had only five sacral vertebrae, while most related dinosaurs had six.
Overall, Sibirotitan provides important clues about the early evolution of giant dinosaurs in Asia. The discovery of Sibirotitan, along with other dinosaurs in the region, helps scientists understand how these magnificent creatures adapted and thrived millions of years ago.