Meet the largest dinosaur in the world, the Patagotitan, which gains exposure in SP

The neck is so big that it’s hard to see the giant’s head. Patagotitan. For those who are afraid of heights, it makes their stomachs sick to look at the 40 meters high of the dinosaur, which can only be reached with a ladder.

Starting this Saturday, the 10th, the exhibition “Dinosaurs: Patagotitan – The Biggest in the World” brings to Brazil, for the first time, a reproduction of the largest skeleton ever found in the history of paleontology.

After a week’s delay due to problems in the arrival of fossils and materials from Argentina to Brazil, the giant Patogotitan mayorumdiscovered in 2013 in Argentine Patagonia, almost became too big for the 2,700 m² of Pacubra, the Pavilion of Brazilian Cultures, in Ibirapuera Park, where it was set up.

With about 102 million years, and a structure capable of leaving anyone open-mouthed, the animal’s bones measure 40 meters in height, which, it is estimated, could weigh 74 tons when alive. Studies also point out that only a heart of 200 kilos could pump enough blood to keep a body that size alive.

Curator and scientific person in charge of the exhibition, paleontologist and professor at the Institute of Geosciences at USP Luiz Anelli recalls that, despite being the largest in the world and the star of the show, the Patagotitan is not the only protagonist of the exhibition.

“We have other dinosaurs that are the biggest predators in the world. The exhibition is a complete history, it has dinosaurs from the three periods of the Mesozoic era”, he says.

In total, there are 15 original fossils on display, including the femur of the Patagotitan, that weighs a ton. There are also 20 dinosaur replicas, in the case of complete skeletons, such as the Brazilian Buriolestes schultziwhich measures approximately only half a meter in height.

Despite the glaring difference in size from the giant cousin that gives the event its name, the Buriolestes is around 233 million years old and is an ancestor of Patagotitan.

The exhibition will be on display in Brazil until December 4th and features only species found in South America and materials belonging to the MEF, the Egídio Feruglio Paleontological Museum, in Argentina, which also brings to the capital of São Paulo the skull of a gigantosaurus and a titanosaur skeleton.

As a class, the visit begins with an eight-minute introductory film that contextualizes what will be seen later. When going through the first phase, monitors helped visitors to understand each sector of the show, which starts with the oldest copies and respects a timeline.

Most dinosaurs cannot be touched, with the exception of those that are marked in blue. For people with physical disabilities or limited mobility, a professional is assigned to assist in visiting the fossils.

As every exhibition is now also Instagrammable, photos are allowed throughout the show. In the end, there is still a viewpoint designed so that it is possible to take a selfie with the giant. Patagotitan. In addition, an augmented virtual reality app was developed for visitors to see, and of course take pictures with, four species of dinosaurs.

At the end of the tour, there are still two more Instagrammable spaces for more photographs and an excavation area designed for children.

According to the organization, 250,000 people are expected to pass through the site, with up to 4,000 visitors per day. Tickets start at R$40 and can be purchased at the digital box office or at the entrance to the exhibition itself.