Produced by the Population Genetics and Evolution class, Furman University

The Cretaceous: Gigantosaurus
This is a little-known genus of sauropod, the first (and type species) of which was discovered in 1862 and dubbed Gigantosaurus megalonyx, although due to incomplete fossil evidence it has also been included with the genus Pelorosaurus, as P.megalonyx. Following this discovery, three more “Gigantosaurs” were discovered, these being G. africanus and G. robustus, both in 1908 (synonymous with Barosaurus africana or Tornieria africana and Janenschia robustus, respectively) and G. dixeyi, or Malawisaurus dixeyi in 1928 (Worth 1999). Because the genus is indeterminate, though, there is no real definition for Gigantosaurs, except perhaps for their presumed enormous size (Tweet 2010).

Page by Will Towler
Historical reconstruction of Gigantosaurus. Picture from: Wikipedia.

Worth G. 1999. Gigantosaurus. The Dinosaur Encyclopedia. Accessed Mar 27, 2010.

Tweet J. 2010. Sauropoda. Thescelosaurus!. Accessed April 5, 2010.