Animals. Paleontologists discover a new dinosaur and pay tribute to the 'Game of Thrones.

On Thursday, paleontologists announced that they had found the remains of an Argentina-based giant dinosaur.

Animals. Paleontologists discover a new dinosaur and pay tribute to the 'Game of Thrones.

On Thursday, paleontologists announced that they had found the remains of an Argentina-based giant dinosaur. It was notable for its large head and small arms. Meraxes gigas was its name, which is the same as the Game of Thrones dragon.

The excavations that were conducted for four years in northern Argentina Patagonia led to the discovery of this carnivorous predator. In 2012, the skull was discovered for the first time. Peter Makovicky, University of Minnesota, USA, stated that the skull was discovered first in 2012.

For a total weight of approximately four tons, the skull was more than 1.20 meters and the animal more that ten meters. The researcher says that the animal's upper limbs measured only 60 cm, or half of the skull. They were also too short to reach its mouth.

Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley published their findings in Current Biology. They believe that the animal's small arms conferred a certain survival advantage. Peter Makovicky says that as the head grew in stature, it became the dominant predatory tool of the animal's arsenal. It also assumed the same function in smaller species, the role of the upper limbs.

Juan Canale, coauthor of the study, and project manager at Neuquen's Ernesto Bachmann Museum, in southern Argentina, says even more: "I am certain that these proportionally decreased arms had a purpose. He explains that the skeleton has large muscle insertions with fully developed pectoral and pectoral girdles. This indicates that the arms were strong. They could use their arms to support themselves after a break or fall, or hold the female during mating.

Peter Makovicky points to the fact that the Meraxes lived in Earth 90-100 million years ago during the Cretaceous. This was when the area was more wet, more forested, and closer to the ocean. The Meraxes could live to their forties, which is a long time for dinosaurs. They also presumably hunted sauropods at the same moment, whose remains have been found at the excavation site.

Peter Makovicky says Meraxes' skull was full of bumps, furrows and ridges. He looked almost gargoyle-like. These are the characteristics that are often subject to selection in living animals," says the researcher. He also explains that these species used their large skulls as a "billboard", to be noticed. Potential partners.