Abditosaurus

Say it like this: “ab-DEE-toe-SOR-us”

Abditosaurus kuehnei

Abditosaurus ate plants and walked on four legs. It lived in the Late Cretaceous. Bones have been found in Spain.

Quiz me on Abditosaurus

When: Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago
Named in: 2022 · Vila, B.; Sellés, A.; Moreno-Azanza, M.; Razzolini, N. L.; Gil-Delgado, A.; Canudo, J. I.; Galobart, À.
Hip height: 3.5 m · 11 ft
Length: 17.5 m · 57 ft
Weight: 14 tonnes
Found in: Spain · Conques
Food and walking: Herbivore · Four legs
Kind: long-neck giant · Sauropod
Family branch: Saltasauridae

The story in short

In 2022, B. Vila and colleagues published the name Abditosaurus. The name means “forgotten lizard.”

Fossils referred to Abditosaurus date to the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago. Finds come from Spain, including the Conques Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on four legs.

Published estimates put Abditosaurus at a length near 17.5 m, hips about 3.5 m high, and a body mass around 14 tonnes.

On the family tree it sits in Saltasauridae, among the sauropod dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Alamosaurus

Alamosaurus sanjuanensis

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago

Igai

Igai semkhu

Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago

Qingxiusaurus

Qingxiusaurus youjiangensis

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Maastrichtian) · roughly 100.5 to 66 million years ago