Magyarosaurus
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Name Meaning | “Magyar lizard” |
| Location | Romania |
| Time Period | c. 70 million years ago (Late Cretaceous) |
| Length | 15 ft (4.5 m) |
| Weight | 1,650 lb (750 kg) |
| Locomotion | Quadruped |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Described | 1932 (von Huene) |
| Geological Formation(s) | Sânpetru, Şard |
| Valid Species | Magyarosaurus dacus (type) |
Phylogeny: Dinosauria > Saurischia > Sauropodomorpha > Plateosauria > Massopoda > Sauropodiformes > Sauropoda > Gravisauria > Eusauropoda > Neosauropoda > Macronaria > Titanosauriformes > Somphospondyli > Titanosauria > Lithostrotia
Overview: Sauropod dinosaurs are famous for two things, those being their elongated necks and great size. Magyarosaurus possessed the former trait, but it was far from enormous. Indeed, with a length of three to five meters when mature, Magyarosaurus was one of the smallest sauropods yet to be described. Ironically, it belonged to the titanosaurian lineage of sauropods, which contained a lot of medium-sized sauropods, but also some of the largest ever found. Studies suggest it was a somewhat derived titanosaur, though its status among its relatives had little bearing on its size. Its overall appearance, despite its size, was similar to most other titanosaurs. It sported an elongated neck and a presumably tiny head. No referable skull material has been found, which is typical for sauropods and titanosaurs in particular, due to their small and often fragile skulls. Magyarosaurus likely fed from lower tree branches or cycads.
If its phylogenetic status didn’t directly influence its smaller size, then that leaves the question as to what did. The answer can be found in the region where Magyarosaurus was found. All of its known fossil specimens come from what is now western Romania. During the Late Cretaceous, large swaths of Europe were underwater due to higher sea levels, creating island chains. Magyarosaurus lived on Hațeg Island, alongside numerous other dinosaurs. Islands have limited resources, which influences many island-dwellers to grow smaller body sizes to compensate. This process is known as “insular dwarfism”, which appears to have occurred in Magyarosaurus. Described in 1932, Magyarosaurus takes part of its name from that of the Magyar, or Hungarian people. Transylvania, where its fossils were found, was still a part of the Kingdom of Hungary back when its holotype fossils were first discovered, in the 1890’s.