Cretaceous
Giganotosaurus
Giganotosaurus carolinii
The catalogue presents Giganotosaurus as a carnivore member of Carcharodontosauridae that lived during the Cretaceous, between 99.6–97.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 12.2–13.2 m in length and 4.2–13.8 t in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Candeleros Formation, Argentina. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Giganotosaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Coria and Salgado (1995).
The PBDB places it in Carcharodontosauridae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Carcharodontosauridae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Carcharodontosauridae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Cenomanian to the Turonian.
The PBDB catalogues 3 occurrences, with material from the Candeleros Formation (2) and from the Huincul Formation (1). Provenance: Argentina.
The catalogue records the holotype as MUCPv-Ch1 and the type locality as “Candeleros Formation, Argentina”.
- MUCPv-Ch1
- Candeleros Formation, Argentina
The catalogue's reference measurements are 12.2–13.2 m in length and 4.2–13.8 t in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 12.2-13.2 m
- 4.2-13.8 tons
The record gathers 32 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.
Where it lived
Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.
Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.
Artistic 3D reconstruction
There is no approved species-specific 3D model yet. Generic anatomy will not be presented as if it were evidence.
Physical Specifications
- Length
- 12.2–13.2 m
- Weight
- 4.2–13.8 t
- Period
- Cretaceous
- Time range
- 99.6–97.0 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1993
- Described by
- Rodolfo Coria, Leonardo Salgado
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Carcharodontosauridae
- Genus
- Giganotosaurus
- Species
- G. carolinii
Data status
Taxonomic name matched to PBDB and checked on 2026-08-08.
Taxonomic linkage does not automatically validate size, mass, behaviour or appearance.
- Type specimen
- MUCPv-Ch1
- Type locality
- Candeleros Formation, Argentina