Snap a selfie with one of the biggest dinosaur ever. 121‑foot Patagotitan unveiled in London

The Patagotitan, also known as the titan from Patagonia, is, according to scientists, one of the largest animals to have ever roamed the Earth. This herbivore resided in South America over 100 million years ago. Fragments of its skeleton were uncovered in 2014 in Argentina. Interestingly, in addition to the bone casts used to assemble the skeleton on display at the museum, real fossilized dinosaur bones were also found. These are on display in cases, making it possible for you to take a selfie with the actual femur of the largest dinosaur.

The skeleton measurements convey that this dinosaur could have been approximately 121 feet from nose to tail, and its weight could have ranged from 66 to 77 tons. The highlighted femur, a popular photo spot, is 7.8 feet long and positioned vertically to give visitors a palpable sense of scale.

The Patagotitan was a part of the sauropod group, including notorious species such as the Diplodocus. These were sizeable animals, celebrated for their barrel-shaped bodies and sturdy legs. The skeleton that the London Museum borrowed from Argentina's Paleontology Museum Egidio Feruglio is rare, given that information about giants like these is typically derived from small bone fragments. The Patagotitan is an exception, with data gathered from hundreds of bones from at least six individual dinosaurs. Hence, this dinosaur is one of the best-understood leviathans of the prehistoric world.

The predominant theory among paleontologists suggests that the enormity of these creatures was a result of the low-nutrient diet they consumed. To make the most of the energy potential from plants, a large digestive system was necessary. Researchers often describe the Patagotitan as an immense fermented tank on sturdy legs. The museum has attempted to illustrate this with an interactive exhibit that allows visitors to simulate the dinosaur's digestion by squeezing tubes that mimic the creature's intestines. The calculations show that the dinosaur could consume up to 287 pounds of plants daily.

The London institution has put in sincere efforts to display the dinosaur in the most innovative fashion. The Patagotitan is positioned on a reinforced floor in the Waterhouse Gallery, which is the museum's largest exhibition space. It is not showcased on any pedestal, allowing the beast to stand directly on the carpet beside the visitors. The exhibition is also filled with a host of interactive videos and games that delve into the life history of these magnificent sauropods.