Paleontologists in Argentina's remote Patagonia region have discovered fossils of what may be the largest dinosaur ever, amid a vast cache of fossils that could shed light on prehistoric life.
The creature is believed to be a new species of Titanosaur, a long-necked, long-tailed sauropod that walked on four legs and lived some 90 million years ago in the Cretaceous Period.
Researchers say the plant-eating dinosaur weighed the equivalent of more than 14 African elephants, or about 100 tonnes, and stretched up to 40 meters (130 feet) in length.
The previous record holder, also in Argentina, the Argentinosaurus, was estimated to measure 36.6 meters long.
Bones from at least seven individual dinosaurs, including some believed to be younger, were found at the site.
The fossils were accidentally discovered in 2011 by a farm worker in a remote area in the Patagonian province of Chubut, some 1,300 km south of Buenos Aires.
Excavations launched in January 2013 also uncovered complete bones of the tail, torso and neck — which will allow for a fuller picture of what the entire animal looked like when alive.
The find is set to help shed light on more than just the anatomy of these remarkably large herbivores.
The researchers have also found what they believe to be muscle insertions, which will help them reconstruct the form of the creature's muscles and calculate how much energy was needed to move them.
Paleontologists have found about 60 teeth at the site, 57 of which are from Tyrannotitan carnivores — one of the largest known therapods, and known scavengers.
In addition to the skeletal remains, fossil imprints of leaves and stems have been found, which could help researchers rebuild the ecosystem at the time.
So far, the new species remains unnamed, and scientists estimate they will publish the first results next year.