Rapetosaurus

Say it like this: “ruh-PAY-too-SOR-uhs”

Rapetosaurus krausei

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

Quiz me on Rapetosaurus

When: Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago
Named in: 2001 · Curry Rogers, K. A.; Forster, C. A.
Hip height: 3 m · 10 ft
Length: 15–16.5 m · 49–54 ft
Weight: 10.3 tonnes
Found in: Madagascar · Maevarano
Food and walking: Herbivore · Four legs
Kind: long-neck giant · Sauropod
Family branch: Saltasauroidea

The story in short

Rapetosaurus was formally named in 2001 by K. A. Curry Rogers and C. A. Forster. The name means “rapeto lizard.”

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

Published estimates put Rapetosaurus at a length near 15–16.5 m, hips about 3 m high, and a body mass around 10.3 tonnes.

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

Close relatives

Arackar

Arackar licanantay

Late Cretaceous (Campanian · Maastrichtian) · roughly 83.6 to 66 million years ago

Bustingorrytitan

Bustingorrytitan shiva

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) · roughly 100.5 to 93.9 million years ago

Isisaurus

Isisaurus colberti

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