The dinosaur will be on show until January 2024
(Picture: MEF/Natural History Museum)The Natural History Museum is set to host a replica of the 35m-long Patagotitan dinosaur - the largest animal to walk on earth.
The South Kensington museum will unveil the replica in the new year, which will be even longer than Dippy the Diplodocus, which measures 28m.
Two replica Patagotitan skeletons exist in the US but it will be the first Europe outing for the dinosaur which could have weighed north of 60,000kg, dwarfing the humble 5,000kg modern elephant.
The skeleton will arrive on loan from Argentina's Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio, whose staff excavated the 100 million-year-old bones in 2014.
Sinéad Marron, exhibition developer, said it will go on show, subject to the museum having enough room. She said: "We should be able to get it in but there won't be much wriggle room.”
Among the replica bones will be the original Patagotitan femur, which is around 2.4m long and will provide visitors with the chance to measure themself against - much like Argentine scientist Dr Diego Pol photographed himself doing upon discovery.
Ms Marron added: “It'll be the first time that those fossils and Patagotitan will be on display in Europe. The Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio is being incredibly generous.
“They're just really keen to showcase their science to the world and we're so excited we're the venue that they want to do that with."
Dippy, a long time favourite, has been compared to a nippy rugby winger compared to the sturdy Patagotitan who resembles a comparative rugby forward.
Ms Marron added: "I don't think Dippy will be put out. In any case, Dippy is about to head out on an adventure of their own, going on long-term loan to another venue in the UK."
Patagotitan is yet to be given a nickname but, more importantly, will be on display at the Natural History Museum from March 31 as part of an exhibition called Titanosaur: Life as the biggest dinosaur. It will be on show until January 7, 2024.
