An artist’s rendering of the dinosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani in life. Dreadnoughtus had a 37-foot-long neck, 30-foot tail, and weighed an estimated 65 tons, making it the most massive land animal whose size can be accurately calculated. Credit: Jennifer Hall

In a scientific paper published in the journal Scientific Reports today, a Drexel-led team has described a new genus and species of dinosaur they have named Dreadnoughtus schrani. An overview of the discovery and its significance is available in the press release here. Below are answers to some commonly asked questions, placing Dreadnoughtus in the context of other enormous dinosaurs and providing more background information about the discovery.

Q: Is Dreadnoughtus schrani the world’s largest dinosaur?

A: Sauropod dinosaurs (long-necked plant eaters) include the largest land animals that have ever existed. Multiple studies have shown that the body weight of a quadrupedal (four-legged) animal corresponds closely with measurements taken…