The Ingentia, a sauropod dinosaur in this giant genus, lived in Argentina during the period of the late Triassic (late Norian-Rhaetian era). Ingentia discovery happened inside the Quebrada del Barro Formation of northwest Argentina as PVSJ 1086, the type specimen.
The type species is Ingentia prima, as it was one very large sauropodomorph to develop, together with Lessemsaurus (close relative), and the authors presented it in 2018. The second specimen, PVSJ 1087, had a left calfbone, five tail vertebrae, ulnae, and radii both along with a right foot.
The fossil was found in northwestern Argentina.
It had a medium-length neck, a long tail, and was a plant-eating dinosaur with four legs. These animals lived 215 million years ago in the Triassic period.
Air sacs allowed it to have a bird-like respiratory system. Due to these air sacs, they kept cool even though they were large and could hold a great deal of oxygen.
The Ingentia prima was the largest creature in the sauropods genus, distinguished by its big size (gigantism), long neck and tail, four legs or feet, and herbivorous diet. Australotitan cooperensis is the largest dinosaur fossil to be found in the whole wide world.
There was once a belief that these dinosaurs spent most of their time wallowing in shallow water, helping to support their ponderous bodies, but considerable evidence indicates they preferred to live on solid ground.
If you like reading about the Ingentia from the later Triassic period, you might also like our articles on Ostafrikasaurus and the Brachiosaurus.
Ingentia Interesting Facts
How do you pronounce 'Ingentia'?
Ingentia is pronounced as 'In-gen-shia'.
What type of dinosaur was an Ingentia?
The Ingentia prima species is an early Sauropod dinosaur. This is the first giant dinosaur to have existed million years ago.
In which geological period did the Ingentia roam the earth?
Ingentia prima dinosaurs lived 215 million years ago in the Late Triassic period.
When did the Ingentia become extinct?
Supervolcanoes are believed to have caused a global extinction at the end of the Late Triassic. These animals were alive 215 million years ago in the later Triassic Period.
Where did an Ingentia live?
The Ingentia prima fossil has been explored in Argentina country. On the Isle of Skye in Scotland, massive Sauropod trackways that date back to the Jurassic period have also been discovered.
What was an Ingentia's habitat?
There is evidence that the Ingentia prima preferred wet and coastal habitats even when they weren't aquatic as historically portrayed. There are many sauropod fossils that have been found in wet environments or intermingled with marine fossils, such as footprints that follow coastlines or that cross floodplains.
On the Isle of Skye in Scotland, massive Sauropod trackways that date back to the Jurassic period have been discovered.
Who did an Ingentia live with?
Various sauropods had distinct social structures based on evidence from trackways and bonebeds. They joined to form compact herds of juveniles, then either become solitary as they grew or formed age-segregated adult herds as they matured. On the Isle of Skye in Scotland, massive Sauropod trackways that date back to the Jurassic period have been discovered.
How long did an Ingentia live?
The estimated lifespan of an Ingentia prima is 70-80 years of age. These animals were alive 215 million years ago, in the late Triassic Period. Research and findings of this species were published later in 'Nature Ecology & Evolution'.
How did they reproduce?
There is no sufficient data available because researchers are still discovering new information every day!
Ingentia Fun Facts
What did an Ingentia look like?
The Ingentia prima was the largest creature in the Sauropods genus and the first giant, distinguished by its big size (gigantism), long neck and tail, four legs and feet, and herbivorous diet. Its size topped all dinosaurs and it was the largest land animal known to have ever lived.
Dinosaurs shared four main features of their bodies.
These are a small head on a long neck, a huge, massive body supporting a large gut, thick pillar-like legs (feet), and a long tail.
These features like the four legs supported the torso. The body and tail were supported by a massive hip girdle that ran from the hip bones to the backbone, usually by five sacral vertebrae bones.
By hollowing out the sides of the backbone, its weight could be reduced while its structural integrity could be protected. There was once a belief that these dinosaurs spent most of their time wallowing in shallow water, helping to support their ponderous bodies.
However, considerable evidence indicates that they preferred to live on solid ground.
Their long necks enabled them to consume even the highest trees in a similar way to how modern giraffes do.
To digest plant matter, they ate stone- or bacteria-bound stones, which apparently helped break down plant matter. As a result of the development of air sacs within its body, this dinosaur was known to have a bird-like respiratory system that provided it with large reserves of oxygenated air to keep it cool despite its huge size (gigantism).
How many bones did an Ingentia have?
The Ingentia prima was discovered to have two partial skeleton bones. The earliest research and findings of the remains of these giants have been published in 'Nature Ecology & Evolution'.
How did they communicate?
It is believed that these enormous sauropods produced low-frequency sounds as a result of the length of their respiratory tracts in their necks. Despite its size and ability to hold a huge amount of oxygen, its air sacs allowed it to maintain a very cool, bird-like respiratory system.
How big was an Ingentia?
The Ingentia prima grew 26-33 ft (7.9-10 m) big in size. It is two times smaller than the giraffe. The size of these dinosaurs topped all dinosaurs. These evolved giants are one of the largest land animals known to have ever lived.
How fast could an Ingentia move?
The maximum reported speed of Ingentia prima dinosaurs was generally 4.5 mph (7.2 kph).
How much did an Ingentia weigh?
The weight of an Ingentia prima was 10 tons (9071.9 kg). As a creature weighing approximately 10 tons (9071.9 kg), the Ingentia prima was about three times as large as the biggest Triassic dinosaurs. These giants are one of the largest land animals known to have ever lived.
What were the male and female names of the species?
There is no specific name for separate species of Ingentia. These evolved giants are simply referred to as a male Ingentia and a female Ingentia.
What would you call a baby Ingentia?
Before evolving, a baby Ingentia dinosaur is called a hatchling or juvenile.
What did they eat?
Ingentia prima dinosaurio are believed to be herbivores because of their teeth arrangement. They used to eat plants, algae, and fungi. To digest plant matter, they ate stone- or bacteria-bound stones, which apparently helped break down plant matter.
How aggressive were they?
No, the sauropods species were generally very calm and friendly. These animals were never aggressive like other dinosaurs. Its earliest research and findings have been published in 'Nature Ecology & Evolution'.
Did you know...
Most sauropods babies were no bigger than modern-day geese when they hatched out of their eggs. In the beginning, dinosaurs were not very big but they grew fast and grew big.
Sauropods hatched at about 11 lb (5 kg), but weighed less than that. Despite this, they grew into adults who were up to 10,000 times heavier within three decades. An animal that experiences a similar rapid weight gain per year has never been observed in any other land animal, living or extinct.
There was once a belief that animals spent most of their time wallowing in shallow water that would help support their ponderous bodies, but considerable evidence indicates they preferred to live on solid ground.
As a creature about 23 ft (7 m) long and weighing approximately 10 tons (9071.9 kg), the Ingentia prima was about three times as enormous as the biggest Triassic dinosaurs.
Its research and findings have been published in 'Nature Ecology & Evolution'.
Was the Ingentia the first dinosaur of its kind?
As the early and largest sauropodomorph to have ever evolved, the genus Ingentia prima is very closely related to Lessemsaurus.
How big was the Ingentia compared to other dinosaurs?
As a creature about 23 ft (7 m) long and weighing approximately 10 tons (9071.9 kg), the Ingentia prima was about three times as large as the biggest Triassic dinosaurs.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other creatures from our Yinlong facts, or Crichtonsaurus facts for kids.
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