First-ever evidence of giant plant-eating dinosaurs found in Antarctica - 19th Dec 2011

Many of the most common fossils found in Antarctica are plants - dating from a time when the continent would have been rich in plant life.

Now scientists have found the first evidence of giant dinosaurs that might have grazed on them.

The titanosaur family included the largest animals ever to walk the earth - and have been found in Antarctica before now.

Titanosaurs were sauropods, four-legged herbivorous dinosaurs with long necks and tails.

Sauropods included some 150 species whose remains have been found around the world, but never in Antarctica.

The new specimen was discovered on James Ross Island by an Argentinian-led team.

It consists of section of vertebrae almost 20cm long believed to have come from the middle third of the dinosaur's tail.

Scientists identified it as belonging to a 'lithostrotian titanosaur' from the Late Cretaceous period around 70 million years ago. Read More