Amargasaurus
A small sauropod with tall spines on its neck and back.
It is most notable for the two parallel rows of tall spines down its neck and back, taller than in any other known sauropod, which may have supported a horn sheath or a neck sail and could have been used for display, combat, or defense.
- field
- Paleontology
- nationality
- Argentina
- known_for
- Two parallel rows of tall spines on neck and back
- length
- 9 to 13 meters (30 to 43 feet)
- weight
- 2.5–4 metric tons (2.8–4.4 short tons)
Lore & Background
The name Amargasaurus alludes to the site of discovery, the La Amarga Arroyo, with 'amarga' meaning 'bitter' in Spanish and 'sauros' meaning 'lizard' in Greek. A second paper focusing on the description of the skull was published one year later by Salgado and Jorge O. Calvo.
Reader's Guide
Amargasaurus is significant as one of the best-known sauropods from the Early Cretaceous of South America, providing valuable insights into the diversity and anatomy of the family Dicraeosauridae. Its most distinctive feature—the two parallel rows of tall, bifurcated neural spines on the neck and anterior dorsal vertebrae—has sparked debate about their function. Studies have suggested they may have supported a horn sheath or formed a scaffold for a neck sail, possibly used for display, combat, or defense. Amargasaurus also contributes to understanding sauropod feeding ecology; analysis of its inner ear and neck vertebrae suggests it habitually fed at mid-height, with its snout about 80 centimeters above the ground and a maximum feeding height of 2.7 meters. This likely helped reduce competition with other sauropod genera that shared its environment. The completeness of the skeleton, including a rare partial skull, makes Amargasaurus a key reference for dicraeosaurid anatomy and evolution.
Did You Know?
- Amargasaurus sported two parallel rows of tall spines down its neck and back, taller than in any other known sauropod.
- The name Amargasaurus alludes to the La Amarga Arroyo, with 'amarga' meaning 'bitter' in Spanish.
- The skeleton is currently stored in the collection of the Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum in Buenos Aires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Amargasaurus?
Amargasaurus was a relatively small sauropod dinosaur that roamed what is now Argentina during the Late Cretaceous. It is instantly recognizable by a pair of rows of remarkably tall spines extending along both its neck and its back.
What were the spines on Amargasaurus's neck actually for?
The exact function remains debated, but researchers propose the spines could have anchored a covering of horn material or formed a sail-like structure. They may have served in visual display, in fights between individuals, or as a defensive feature against predators.
How big was Amargasaurus?
The animal stretched roughly 9 to 13 meters (about 30 to 43 feet) from snout to tail tip and tipped the scales somewhere between 2.5 and 4 metric tons. That places it on the smaller end of sauropod body sizes, well below giants like Argentinosaurus.
Where were Amargasaurus fossils found?
All known remains come from sedimentary deposits in Argentina, making it one of the many prehistoric creatures whose story is told through South American fossil beds.
What made Amargasaurus unique among sauropods?
Among every sauropod we have identified so far, none possesses neck and back spines that rival the extraordinary height seen in Amargasaurus. That single trait sets it apart visually from all other members of its group.
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