Prepare yourselves to be amazed by the giants of the past at Dinosaurio CosmoCaixa. This is no ordinary exhibition. It is a portal to the Mesozoic Era.
CaixaForum Madrid invites you to journey back to prehistoric times. You will discover the incredible dinosaurs that once roamed Patagonia. This region is a treasure trove of paleontological discoveries.
This exhibit showcases the work of dedicated paleontologists. From July 18, 2024, to April 6, 2025, you can explore this fascinating world.
The Egidio Feruglio Museum in Trelew, Argentina created this traveling exhibition. It presents thirteen modules focusing on the main dinosaurs found in Patagonia. These are grouped into carnivores, giant sauropods and smaller herbivores.
Fifteen dinosaur skeleton molds are on display. Original fossils reveal how evolutionary changes occurred. You’ll learn about the unique and surprising characteristics of these creatures. Each skeleton highlights specific adaptations. They show how species changed over time. They also reveal how evolutionary trends can be recognized in the fossil record.
The star of Dinosaurio CosmoCaixa is a thirty-meter-long replica. It is a Patagotitan mayorum. This massive dinosaur will leave you in awe.
One of the most significant dinosaurs was discovered in 2012. Farmer Aurelio Fernández found the first bone. It was on his farm in Chubut, Argentine Patagonia. A team from MEF, led by José Luis Carballido and Diego Pol, unearthed more than 200 fossils. These fossils represented seven specimens of Patagotitan mayorum. The dinosaur was named after the Mayo family. They owned the farm where it was found.
The bones were well-preserved. The quantity of remains was substantial. This allowed for an anatomical reconstruction of the long-necked, quadrupedal creature. Its head was small and its tail was long. Scientists estimated its size. They measured the circumference of its humerus and femur. They also created a three-dimensional reconstruction. This was done by scanning all the bones. The Patagotitan mayorum was 38 meters long. This makes it the largest animal ever to inhabit the Earth. This herbivore needed to eat 129 kg of plants per day. Unlike other sauropods, it did not have hollow bones. This suggests it moved slowly. This optimized energy and oxygen consumption.
The Dinosaurio CosmoCaixa also presents other impressive dinosaurs. Tyrannotitan chubutensis inhabited the Earth 120 million years ago. It was a predator of Patagotitan mayorum. Scientists confirmed this through the discovery of 57 teeth of this species. These teeth were found alongside the remains of the Patagotitan. The Tyrannotitan had very short arms similar to those of Tyrannosaurus rex. It ran on its hind legs. It reached speeds of 30 kilometers per hour. It was 12 meters long. It weighed about six tonnes.
Another dinosaur is Eoraptor lunensis. This is one of the most primitive specimens. It lived on Earth 230 million years ago. It provides valuable information about the evolution of the first dinosaurs.
Manidens condorensis is another highlight. This is one of the smallest dinosaurs in the world. It lived 85 million years ago. It was about 75 centimeters long. It weighed one kilo.
Prepare to be transported to a world long past at Dinosaurio CosmoCaixa. It is a journey you will not soon forget.