# New Giant Dinosaur Species Unearthed at Brazilian Construction Site

Fossils reveal evolutionary links to Europe and insights into sauropod migration.

- **Source:** [Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily](https://brifing.si/source/0eef8637-6c5b-4e79-8f5b-6c9c6b36cf16)
- **Published:** 2026-09-08
- **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business)
- **Original article:** <https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201603.htm>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/572f930c-ca37-4d41-9cc6-e0848a11a86d

## Discovery Context

Construction workers in Davinópolis, Maranhão, uncovered fossils of a 20-meter-long dinosaur during a rail terminal project. The discovery occurred under environmental licensing protocols, initially mistaken for prehistoric mammals. Paleontologist Elver Mayer identified the Cretaceous-era remains at 8-meter depth, dating them to 120 million years ago. This marks the largest dinosaur found in Maranhão, surpassing the 10-meter Amazonsaurus maranhensis.

## Scientific Significance

Named Dasosaurus tocantinensis, the species bridges evolutionary gaps between South American and European sauropods. Its closest relative lived in modern-day Spain, suggesting trans-Atlantic migrations via North Africa when Gondwana connected these regions. Microscopic bone analysis revealed hybrid growth patterns, combining ancestral sauropod traits with titanosaur features. This challenges existing timelines for dinosaur physiological evolution.

## Fossil Composition

The specimen includes rare complete elements: 1.5-meter femur, tail vertebrae, ribs, and limb bones. Currently housed at São Luís' State Center for Natural History Research, it represents one of Brazil's most informative Cretaceous finds. Researchers suspect more remains await excavation at the site. The naming combines 'forest' (Daso) from Portuguese colonial records and the nearby Tocantins River.

## Research Collaboration

A 20-member team from multiple Brazilian universities studied the fossils after extensive preparation in Pará. Funded by FAPESP, the project explores South American dinosaur diversity. Lead researcher Max Langer notes such discoveries rely heavily on construction exposures in vegetation-dense Brazil. The team now negotiates further site access with the construction company.

## Construction Paradox

While infrastructure projects risk fossil destruction, they enable access to deep sedimentary layers. Over 60% of Brazilian paleontological sites coincide with highways or quarries. Langer emphasizes mandatory monitoring often lags behind development. The discovery occurred through compliance with environmental licensing requirements—a model for heritage preservation.

## Evolutionary Implications

Bone microstructure analysis suggests sauropods developed gigantism-enabling traits earlier than presumed. The specimen's transitional features may explain how some lineages achieved 40+ meter lengths. This aligns with recent findings about nutrient-rich Cretaceous flora supporting massive herbivores across Gondwana's connected continents.

## Heritage Challenges

Mayer highlights urgent need for construction-paleontology collaboration under Brazil's fossil protection laws. Only 12% of infrastructure projects include paleontological monitors. The team advocates standardized protocols to balance development with scientific recovery, noting this discovery nearly went unrecognized during initial earthworks.

## Future Research

Planned excavations could reveal more about Dasosaurus' ecological niche and extinction factors. Researchers aim to reconstruct Maranhão's Cretaceous ecosystems, comparing them with contemporary African/European sites. The findings may rewrite models of dinosaur dispersal during Gondwana's fragmentation 100-120 million years ago.

## Sources covering this story

- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201603.htm — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._