Titanosaurs

Titanosaurs are a diverse group of sauropod dinosaurs within the clade Titanosauria. They thrived from the Early to Late Cretaceous and are among the last major lineages of long-necked herbivores, persisting until the end-Cretaceous extinction. Fossils have been found on multiple continents, including South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia.

Size among titanosaurs varied widely. Some members achieved enormous body mass, with Argentinosaurus and Patagotitan among the largest land animals known. Other forms were smaller, such as Rapetosaurus from Madagascar. The group includes both heavily built and more slender skeletons.

They share typical sauropod features—long necks and tails, and elephantine limbs—but titanosaurs display characteristic traits such as robust limb bones and, in some taxa, dermal osteoderms (bony plates in the skin). Their teeth are generally small and peg-like, reflecting a herbivorous diet; some species show evidence of beaks and specialized tooth work.

Notable genera include Argentinosaurus, Patagotitan, Puertasaurus, Dreadnoughtus, Saltasaurus, Tapuiasaurus, and Rapetosaurus. Saltasaurus is particularly known for its dermal armor.

In paleobiology, titanosaurs are significant for their geographic spread and ecological prominence in the later Cretaceous, helping define the end of the age of giant sauropods.