Turiasaurus is a fascinating type of dinosaur that lived a long time ago, around 155 to 146 million years ago during the late Jurassic period.
This dinosaur is known from fossils found in a place called the Villar del Arzobispo Formation in Teruel, Spain. Scientists believe Turiasaurus was one of the largest dinosaurs discovered in Europe.
When it was first studied, Turiasaurus was estimated to be over 30 meters long, which is about 98 feet! Some estimates even suggested it could be between 36 to 39 meters long, weighing around 40 to 48 tons. However, newer studies suggest it might have been between 21 to 30 meters long and weighed around 30 to 50 tons.
One interesting fact about Turiasaurus is its skull. It was only about 70 centimeters long, which is not very big compared to its huge body. Some scientists think if its head were much larger, it could have hurt its neck.
Turiasaurus is part of a group of dinosaurs called sauropods, who are known for their long necks and tails. It belongs to a special category called Turiasauria, which includes other dinosaurs like Losillasaurus and Galvesaurus.
The first fossils of Turiasaurus were described in 2006 by scientists Royo-Torres, Cobos, and Alcala. Excavations in the early 2010s near Madrid found some of the most complete fossils of these dinosaurs ever discovered.
So, Turiasaurus gives us a glimpse into the incredible world of dinosaurs that roamed the Earth millions of years ago!