A colossal dinosaur nicknamed Shiva ‘The Destroyer’ has been identified as one of the largest ever found. Researchers unearthed the remains of this massive creature, known as Bustingorrytitan shiva, last year in western Argentina. Now, they’ve revealed artistic reconstructions of the Cretaceous behemoth, depicting it alongside other towering “megatitanosaurs” that roamed Argentina over 90 million years ago.
The newly discovered dinosaur, measuring an impressive 98 feet in length, shared its habitat with other long-necked sauropods. Bustingorrytitan shiva, described by scientists late last year, is portrayed as a stockier variant of the long-necked sauropod, known as a titanosaur, in visually striking images and videos.
B. shiva ranks among the largest sauropods ever identified, estimated to weigh around 74 tons (67 metric tons), according to a study published in December 2023. While not the absolute largest dinosaur (a title possibly held by Argentinosaurus), B. shiva still held significant ecological sway in ancient Argentina.
The discovery of B. shiva in North Patagonia highlights a separate evolution of “mega titanosaurs” with gigantism exceeding 55 tons (50 metric tons) within the titanosaur group. María Edith Simón, the lead author of the study, emphasized the ongoing potential for new discoveries in Patagonia, stating that the region often reveals marvels previously unknown to science.
The first fossil of B. shiva was found by farmer Manuel Bustingorry in Neuquén Province in 2000, with subsequent excavations led by Simón revealing multiple individuals of the species. These findings, situated within the 93 million to 96 million-year-old Huincul Formation, shed light on the coexistence of distinct titanosaurs during the mid-Cretaceous period.
B. shiva’s genus name, “Bustingorrytitan,” honors the farmer who made the initial discovery, while the species name “shiva” references the Hindu god of destruction, reflecting the transformative nature of the universe during the dinosaur’s existence.
As researchers continue to unravel the mysteries surrounding B. shiva, it serves as a testament to the diverse and dynamic ecosystems of prehistoric Earth.