When did the formal description and scientific confirmation of the species Patagotitan mayorum occur?
Answer
In 2017
While the discovery phase began serendipitously in 2012 when a farm worker noticed the large bone fragment, the official recognition and scientific validation of the new species took several years of careful excavation, preparation, and analysis. The formal description of *Patagotitan mayorum* was published in 2017. This publication officially cemented its status among the known largest dinosaurs, confirming the findings derived from the monumental excavation effort conducted in the Chubut Province.
Related Questions
In which geographical location were the initial fossil remains of Patagotitan mayorum unearthed?What specific skeletal measurement of Patagotitan surpassed 2.4 meters in length?Which paleontologist provided an estimate of roughly 69 tonnes for a 35-meter-long Patagotitan individual?What structural feature, besides dense bone, was necessary in the vertebral column of Patagotitan to manage its weight?How is the estimated mass of Patagotitan generally compared to fully grown African elephants for perspective?When did the formal description and scientific confirmation of the species Patagotitan mayorum occur?What potential outcome might occur if current density models used for Patagotitan are deemed too conservative?Which North American sauropod is noted as being extremely long but typically estimated to be lighter than Patagotitan?What specialized anatomical feature, besides bone density, would the Patagotitan require to handle the load during its stance phase?What general range of mass, in metric tons, is the consensus estimate for Patagotitan mayorum?