Bicharracosaurus
Extinct genus of dinosaurs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bicharracosaurus (lit."big animal lizard", from bicharraco, the informal Spanish word for "big animal") is a genus of macronarian sauropod dinosaur, possibly a brachiosaurid, that existed during the Late Jurassic of Cañadón Calcáreo Formation in what is now Argentina. The genus is monotypic with the type species being Bicharracosaurus dionidei.[1]
| Bicharracosaurus Temporal range: Late Jurassic, | |
|---|---|
| |
| Life restoration | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | †Sauropodomorpha |
| Clade: | †Sauropoda |
| Clade: | †Macronaria |
| Genus: | †Bicharracosaurus Reutter et al., 2026 |
| Type species | |
| †Bicharracosaurus dionidei Reutter et al., 2026 | |
Discovery and naming
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The type specimen of Bicharracosaurus, MPEF-PV 1730, was discovered in the Chubut Province of Argentina, in the central part of the outcrop area which is located near the Chubut River. It was reported by a local farmer, Dionide Mesa, in March 2001. The excavation of the site occurred in 2002. Most of the specimen was excavated by 2011 though more cervical vertebrae were excavated in 2018. The specimen consists of a partial skeleton, which contains disarticulated caudal vertebrae, articulated cervical and dorsal vertebrae, with ribs, sacral vertebrae and ilium.[1]
In 2026, Alexandra Reutter and colleagues described Bicharracosaurus dionidei as a new genus and species of macronarian sauropod based on these fossil remains, establishing MPEF-PV 1730 as the holotype specimen. The generic name, Bicharracosaurus, combines the informal Spanish word bicharraco, meaning 'big'—in reference to its huge size—and the Latinised Greek word saurus, meaning 'lizard'. The specific name, dionidei, is after the farmer Dionide Mesa who found this specimen.[1]
Description
Bicharracosaurus had an estimated length of 15 metres (49 ft) and a weight of 20 tonnes (44,000 lb).
Several distinguishing traits were established. Three of these are autapomorphies, unique derived qualities. In the middle and rear tail vertebrae the centrodiapophyseal fossa is pierced by a triangular pneumatic hole. With the rearmost neck vertebrae the postzygodiapophyseal lamina at its lower end has a small upwardly directed protuberance. The centra of the sacral vertebrae have boat-shaped joint facets.[1]
