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GiganotosaurusGiganotosaurus (jig-a-NOT-o-SAWR-us, meaning Giant southern lizard) is a dinosaur from the late Cretaceous, often considered the largest known terrestrial carnivore. The largest specimen is estimated to reach 14.3 m (47 ft) in length, and weigh up to 8,000 kg (9 tons), edging out the Tyrannosaurus rex by almost 2 m and 2,000 kg (5 ft and 2 tons). The skull alone is about 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) long. Compared to the T. rex, G. carolinii is relatively slender, and has a much smaller braincase. While the brain of the Giganotosaurus was only the size of a banana, a well-developed olfactory region indicate it may have a good sense of smell. Titanosaurid fossils were also recovered nearby, leading to speculation that the carnivore may have preyed on these giant herbivores. About 70 percent of the skeleton of the holotype specimen (MUCPv-Ch1) was recovered, including a skull, pelvis, leg bones, and most of the backbone. An 8 percent longer specimen (MUCPv-95) was also recovered. G. carolinii was named for Ruben Carolini, an amateur fossil hunter who discovered the fossils in the deposits of the Rio Limay Formation of Patagonia, in 1993. The genus name "Giganotosaurus" is derived from the Greek gigas ("giant"), notos ("south wind") and sauros ("lizard"). Both names were published in by Rodolfo Coria and Leonardo Salgado in the journal Nature in 1995. The original fossils remain at the Carmen Funes Museum in Neuquen, Argentina, though replicas are common. External links
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