Fun Turiasaurus Facts For Kids

Turiasaurus is without a doubt one of the biggest sauropod dinosaurs that have ever roamed the European continent.

Early estimations of Turiasaurus set its possible length over 114.8 ft (35 m), however, most today consider Turiasaurus to have been approximately 98.4 ft (30 m) long, placing Turiasaurus as one of the largest.

Turiasaurus was formerly unofficially known as Riodeva-Saurus, after the Spanish town of Riodeva and described by Royo Torres, Cobos, and Alcala. Turiasaurus means 'Turia lizard', although it should be noted that 'Turia' is the Latinized version of Teruel, the name of the Province where the first Turiasaurus animals' fossils were discovered.

Turiasauria is a non-neosauropod eusauropod clade of dinosaurs that has been known since 2006 when Turiasaurus was described.

This group, which included Losillasaurus, was considered to be limited to the Late Jurassic of Spain.

However, during the last decade, we have gained a better understanding of this giant group because of the discovery of new species such as Zby from the Portuguese Late Jurassic, Tendaguria from the Tanzanian Late Jurassic, and Mierasaurus and Moabosaurus from the USA's Early Cretaceous.

Turiasaurus Interesting Facts

How do you pronounce 'Turiasaurus'?

It is pronounced as 'Tu-re-ah-sore-us'. Turiasaurus riodevensis, the type species, was formally described in 2006 by Royo-Torres, Cobos, and Alcala. It was once known as Riodeva-Saurus, after the Spanish town of Riodeva. The name Turia-saurus means 'Turia lizard'.

What type of dinosaur was a Turiasaurus?

Turiasaurus rex is a sauropod dinosaur genus. It is known from a single fossil specimen of the animals' Turiasaurus riodevensis discovered in Teruel, Spain, in the Kimmeridgian Villar del Arzobispo Formation.

In which geological period did the Turiasaurus roam the earth?

The inclusion of several Turiasauria fossils in the analysis of some sauropod fauna of Madagascar suggests that this clade may have emerged in the Middle Jurassic. According to our phylogenetic conclusions, a specimen discovered in Madagascar in the early 19th century is the oldest and sole member of Turiasauria documented in the Middle Jurassic thus far.

Turiasauria is therefore known from the Middle Jurassic in Pangaea, diversified in the Late Jurassic in Gondwana and Laurasia, and spread to North America during the Early Cretaceous.

When did the Turiasaurus become extinct?

Turi lived from the Kimmeridgian period to 145 million years ago. There are numerous hypotheses as to what caused the catastrophic extinction of non-avian dinosaurs and other species during the end of the Cretaceous Period.

It is certain that a huge asteroid or comet collided with Earth during this time period, producing a significant upheaval in the Earth's climate.

Some scientists believe that this impact had catastrophic effects on Earth's life. Other causes, like rising sea levels and large-scale volcanic activity, may have also had a part in this mass extinction.

Where did a Turiasaurus live?

The Villar del Arzobispo Formation was a transitional habitat that actually recorded the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition. This was a coastal floodplain habitat with a mix of muddy and sandy regions, and it was regularly flooded, resulting in the quick burial of the creatures present.

There was a diverse array of marine creatures present, indicating that Turiasaurus and its companions were feeding along the coast's tree line. It inhabited Europe; its fossils have been found in places as Aragon (Spain).

What was a Turiasaurus' habitat?

This giant European dinosaur would have had to spend the majority of its time foraging in the trees, cramming as much food as possible into its massive stomach. When it wasn't foraging, it was probably on the go, looking for more food!

Who did a Turiasaurus live with?

Turaisaurus appears to have connected with other members of the species in order to keep safe - although being large, they weren't particularly quick, so numbers would have been beneficial if nothing else, especially for younger and smaller, sick and old members of the group.

How long did a Turiasaurus live?

It was a sauropod. Turiasaurus riodevensis lived around 145 million years ago and was named after the location and hamlet in Spain where it was discovered.

How did they reproduce?

All dinosaurs were oviparous, or egg-laying. There are several good specimens of fossilized egg remains and nests available for research. Dinosaurs produced hard-shelled eggs similar to birds rather than soft-shelled eggs like crocodylians and other reptiles.

Turiasaurus Fun Facts

What did a Turiasaurus look like?

This giant European dinosaur is one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered, measuring 118.1-128 ft (36-39 m) in length and weighing 44.1-52.9 tons (40-48 met tons), the combined weight of six to seven African elephants. Its cranium is just 27 in (70 cm) in length.

According to paleontologist Luis Alcala, if the skull was bigger, the neck would shatter.

Phylogenetic research reveals that species, together with Losilasaurus and Galveosaurus, belonged to a distinct clade, Turiasauria, outside the Neosauropoda division.

The top of the skull sloped down to the tip of the snout, and the lower jaw, as well as the back of the head, were boxier. This light cranium was accompanied by tiny, triangular teeth that were densely packed in the jaw.

This skull resembled that of Camarasaurus in many aspects, indicating that such a high head is ancestral to the group of more advanced sauropods, the Neosauropods and that Diplodocoids, with their long, thin skulls, formed that condition separately.

The rest of the body was made up of somewhat longer front limbs than rear limbs, a short tail, and a lengthy neck.

Turiasaurus was so massive that it was almost certainly completely scaly; any feathers remained would have been for show, and even that seems doubtful.

How many bones did a Turiasaurus have?

In Spain, the fossil bones of what might have been Europe's biggest animal yet discovered, a new kind of dinosaur, have been unearthed. This animal's fragmentary remains, comprising an articulated left forelimb, skull fragments, teeth, vertebrae, and ribs, have been discovered in Riodeva's Villar del Arzobispo Formation.

A Portuguese forelimb. In addition to the humerus, researchers discovered skull, scapula, femur, tibia, and fibula pieces, as well as teeth, vertebrae, ribs, and phalanges.

How did they communicate?

Dinosaurs most likely communicated visually as well as verbally.

How big was a Turiasaurus?

Turiasaurus size is thought to be Europe's biggest dinosaur and one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered in the world, measuring 118.1-128 ft (36-39 m) in length. Its cranium is just 27.6 in (70 cm) in length. According to paleontologist Luis Alcala, if the skull was bigger, the neck would shatter. It was first noted by Royo Torres.

How fast could a Turiasaurus move?

Their speed is not known.

How much did a Turiasaurus weigh?

Turiasaurus was a massive, lumpy sauropod that weighed 44.1-52.9 tons (40-48 met tons) or the combined weight of six-seven African elephants and is similar to the largest known dinosaurs in the world, such as the Argentinosaurus and Brachiosaurus.

What were the male and female names of the species?

It is famously difficult to distinguish males from females of prehistoric organisms known solely through fossils, such as dinosaurs because sex differences are rarely evident from the bones. So, there are no sex-specific names allotted.

What would you call a baby Turiasaurus?

Dinosaurs hatch from eggs, therefore new young dinosaurs are referred to as hatchlings, as are their reptile counterparts the turtles and crocodiles.

What did they eat?

Turiasaurus would have been a skilled browser, capable of reaching vegetation as tall as six meters. It would thereafter have browsed on any plant stuff it could get its hands on!

How aggressive were they?

This giant dinosaur as described by Royo Torres, was a herbivore in Spain so you can assume it was not much aggressive.

Did you know...

Two different specimens of this giant dinosaur have been found and done research on by paleontologists around the world. It was first described by Royo Torres, Cobos, and Alcala.

What fossil was the Turiasaurus discovered from?

The giant dinosaur is known from a single fossil remains of the species sauropod Turiasaurus riodevensis discovered in Teruel, Spain, in the Kimmeridgian Villar del Arzobispo Formation.

What continent did the Turiasaurus live on?

Turiasaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur. It lived in Europe during the Jurassic/Cretaceous era. Its fossils have been discovered in areas like Aragon (Spain).

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Zuniceratops fun facts, or Heterodontosaurus facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Turiasaurus coloring pages.

Main image by Levi bernardo.