Which sauropod analogue was used to estimate the heavier potential weight for Xenoposeidon?
Answer
Brachiosaurus
Size estimations for *Xenoposeidon* are derived by comparing its isolated vertebra scaling properties against established sauropods that represent different body architecture types. To estimate the upper range of potential mass, paleontologists used *Brachiosaurus* as the comparative analogue because it represents a more heavily constructed animal compared to other giants. By scaling from the dimensions implied by the vertebra to match the robust build of *Brachiosaurus*, the estimated weight for *Xenoposeidon* reached roughly 7.6 tonnes (8.4 short tons), even if its length estimate was comparatively shorter, around 15 meters (49 feet).
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