GW PALEO

Mesetasaurus protector is a recently described species of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur, a group of giant, long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs. Discovered in Uruguay, this fascinating creature lived between 86 and 72 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous epoch.

The dinosaur's identification is based on two remarkably well-preserved tail vertebrae, or caudal vertebrae, which were initially unearthed near the Uruguay River in the 1980s but only formally studied and named in July 2026. Paleontologists estimate Mesetasaurus protector measured approximately 9 to 10 meters (around 30 to 33 feet) long. Its name holds special significance: "Mesetasaurus" refers to the Meseta de Artigas locality where the fossils were found, and "protector" honors José Artigas, a Uruguayan national hero also known as "Protector de los Pueblos Libres," whose monument stands near the discovery site.

This discovery marks Mesetasaurus protector as the second non-avian dinosaur described from Uruguay, contributing to our understanding of the diverse dinosaur lineages that inhabited South America during the Late Cretaceous.