Soriatitan is a fascinating genus of large dinosaurs known as brachiosaurids. They lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 130 to 125 million years ago, in what is now Spain. The only species identified is called Soriatitan golmayensis.
Discovery of Soriatitan began in 2000 when a team of paleontologists excavated fossils from the Golmayo Formation in Spain. Their hard work led to the identification of several bones, which included teeth, vertebrae, limbs, and parts of the pelvis. The preparation of these fossils was supported by the Dinópolis Foundation, and in 2009, they were ready to be studied further.
Soriatitan was a massive dinosaur, measuring about 43 to 46 feet long, which is roughly as long as a school bus, and it weighed around 8 tons, similar to the weight of several cars. This dinosaur had small teeth that were about 0.7 inches long, showing it primarily fed on plants. Fossils of plants found alongside Soriatitan suggest that it lived in a warm, subtropical environment filled with conifer trees, which were likely its main food source.
The discovery of Soriatitan adds to our understanding of brachiosaurids. It shows that these magnificent dinosaurs roamed not only in North America but also in Europe during the same time period. This finding goes against the previous belief that brachiosaurids had vanished from Europe around 130 million years ago. Soriatitan gives us more insights into the connections between different landmasses and the types of dinosaurs that once lived there.
Overall, Soriatitan golmayensis is an important part of dinosaur history and helps scientists learn more about how these incredible creatures lived millions of years ago.