The Patagotitan Mayorum, a titanosaur measuring forty metres long and nine metres high, is the largest terrestrial creature ever to walk the earth. The herbivorous giant’s head extends beyond the doorway of the expansive room where it is displayed. As of this Saturday, November 9, it has been permanently displayed at the newly expanded Egidio Feruglio Paleontological Museum (MEF) in Trelew, Chubut.
“Patagotitan will be our main attraction, but we also have 32 dinosaurs on display,” says Matías Cutro, MEF’s communication and extension activities coordinator. “As a collection of provincial heritage, we feature original pieces and replicas. Many of the replicas even have original fossils beneath them.”
In addition to the remarkable Patagotitan, the museum boasts a replica of Giganotosaurus, the most giant carnivorous dinosaur known to date. “This exhibit will be a major tourist draw,” Cutro adds, “since it’s the largest Argentine dinosaur ever found and will be showcased here in Chubut, its place of discovery. It’s truly unique on a national level.”
Replicas of Patagotitan are quite rare, with only a few on display worldwide—one at Chicago’s Field Museum and another at New York’s Museum of Natural History.
The story began in 2012 when the first bone of a Patagotitan was unearthed. This led to the discovery of more than 150 fossils belonging to at least six individuals of this giant species. This remarkable find highlighted the need for a larger museum space, prompting an expansion project that took nearly five years to complete.
The newly expanded MEF now covers 9,000 square metres and includes a two-story convention centre with a capacity for 1,800 guests. The museum is equipped with touch screens and QR codes for additional scientific information and meets the standards of the world’s top natural history institutions. It houses over 40,000 fossils from Patagonia, protected and studied within its walls. Starting this Saturday, the world’s largest dinosaur will finally have a home fitting its grandeur.
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by Leonardo Nieva
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