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Science

Comparing the Sizes of Dinosaurs in the Lost World

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This graphic shows the sizes of the largest and smallest dinosaurs.

Click to view a larger version of the graphic.

Comparing the Sizes of Dinosaurs in the Lost World

When dinosaurs inhabited the Earth over 66 million years ago, their sizes and species varied dramatically.

While geological evidence is far from complete, fossil evidence suggests that the largest dinosaurs were comparable to the length of a Boeing 737 or the weight of 12 elephants. Meanwhile, the smallest were similar to the size of a chicken or bird.

In this infographic from Giulia De Amicis we compare the sizes of dinosaurs to get a sense of their vast scale and diversity.

Sizes of Dinosaurs Compared to Modern Day Life

Towering as high as 39 meters, the Argentinosaurus or ‘Argentina lizard’ is currently thought to be the largest dinosaur ever discovered. It was a sauropod, a subgroup of dinosaurs with very long necks and long tails, four wide legs for support, and relatively smaller heads.

In 1987, its bones were unearthed in the Patagonia region of Argentina, a destination well-known for prehistoric fossils. For comparison’s sake, the length of the Argentinosaurus is as high as a 13-story building.

NameLength (Meters)Length (Feet)
Argentinosaurus39 m128 ft
Blue Whale30 m98 ft
Brachiosaurus26 m85 ft
Diplodocus26 m85 ft
Barosaurus24 m79 ft
Spinosaurus15 m49 ft
Tyrannosaurus rex12 m30 ft
Iguanodon10 m33 ft
Baryonyx10 m33 ft
Triceratops9 m30 ft
African Elephant7 m23 ft
Human1.8 m6 ft
Epidextipteryx44 cm1.4 ft
Parvicursor39 cm 1.3 ft

Other sauropods were also massive, including the Brachiosaurus, or ‘arm lizard’—it was roughly the size of a blue whale.

Fossil evidence discovered in 1900 in the Colorado Valley showed that the Brachiosaurus lived in the late Jurassic Period, 140-155 million years ago. Similarly, the Tyrannosaurus rex (12 m) also lived in North America, but during the Late Cretaceous period some 80 million years later.

Among the smallest dinosaurs were the Parvicursor (literally ‘small runner’) and Epidextipteryx (literally ‘display feather’). Both were under 45 centimeters, similar to a modern mid-sized bird.

The Age of Giants

Not only were the dinosaurs sheerly colossal in size, but so too was their mass.

Sizes of Dinosaurs

Consider how the Argentinosaurus was about the weight of a typical rocket at 75,000 kg, or twice the mass of a Boeing 737. And there were many heavy dinosaurs, such as the Diplodocus (meaning ‘double beam’) which weighed a hefty 13,000 kg.

Sizes of Dinosaurs In Question

How do we know these sizes and weights?

Scientists use discovered bones, impressions, and completed fossils to come up with ranges of estimates. The more complete a fossil and the more similar fossils exist, the more accurate the estimate that scientists can make.

But amid discoveries of the largest dinosaurs on earth, many paleontologists have questioned size claims. Due to incomplete fossil records, some estimates are based on as little as a handful of bone records. For instance, just 20% of the Brachiosaurus’ skeleton has been discovered.

At the same time, techniques such as 3-D scanning continue to be refined, and there are now many different techniques being used to estimate size. That said, one study has shown that even diverse sizing techniques typically arrive at similar results.

With access to virtual fossils, broad archeological datasets, as well as advancing techniques and new discoveries, the understanding of the sizes of dinosaurs continues to evolve.

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This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.

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Maps

Mapped: Top 100 Countries Hit by Earthquakes in 2024

Countries along tectonic plate boundaries are most often hit by earthquakes. We visualize the top 100 nations that see the most activity.

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Mapped: Top 100 Countries Hit by Earthquakes in 2024

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Key Takeaways

  • Ranked first, Mexico saw nearly 2,000 earthquakes (magnitude 4.0+) in 2024.
  • For reference, the U.S. only saw 168 earthquakes in the same time period.
  • Japan saw the strongest earthquake (magnitude 7.5) in 2024.

Most people have a fair idea of how tectonic plates work, and how their movement causes earthquakes.

But how does that impact countries in these seismic zones? We map data from Earthquakeslist.org, which ranks the top 100 countries hit by earthquakes in 2024.

Only earthquakes above a 4.0 magnitude and whose epicenters were within 300 km (186 miles) of the country were counted.

Ranked: Top 100 Countries Hit by Earthquakes in 2024

Mexico saw 1,971 earthquakes (with a magnitude above 4.0) in 2024, the most worldwide.

Ranked second, Indonesia witnessed 1,872 the same year. The strongest earthquake for both countries registered a 6.4 in magnitude.

RankCountry# of Earthquakes (2024)Strongest Magnitude
1🇲🇽 Mexico1,9716.4
2🇮🇩 Indonesia1,8726.4
3🇯🇵 Japan1,5637.5
4🇵🇭 The Philippines9977.1
5🇨🇱 Chile8757.4
6🇬🇹 Guatemala7046.4
7🇹🇼 Taiwan6557.4
8🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea6376.9
9🇵🇪 Peru6245.8
10🇨🇳 China5917.0
11🇦🇷 Argentina3987.4
12🇸🇻 El Salvador3676.2
13🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan3627.0
14🇦🇫 Afghanistan3136.4
15🇹🇴 Tonga3096.9
16🇹🇯 Tajikistan3096.4
17🇷🇺 Russia2927.0
18🇳🇮 Nicaragua2836.2
19🇻🇺 Vanuatu2737.3
20🇭🇳 Honduras2716.2
21🇰🇿 Kazakhstan2687.0
22🇵🇰 Pakistan2526.4
23🇹🇱 Timor-Leste2516.1
24🇨🇷 Costa Rica2416.2
25🇮🇳 India2075.7
26🇹🇷 Türkiye2056.0
27🇬🇷 Greece2055.8
28🇮🇷 Iran1985.4
29🇫🇯 Fiji1965.7
30🇧🇴 Bolivia1905.7
31🇬🇺 Guam1695.5
32🇺🇸 U.S.1687.0
33🇲🇵 Northern
Mariana Islands
1586.3
34🇵🇦 Panama1535.8
35🇺🇿 Uzbekistan1525.2
36🇨🇴 Colombia1375.6
37🇪🇹 Ethiopia1275.4
38🇳🇿 New Zealand1245.8
39🇪🇨 Ecuador1245.5
40🇼🇸 Samoa1125.7
41🇻🇪 Venezuela1056.0
42🇲🇲 Myanmar895.7
43🇵🇷 Puerto Rico735.6
44🇸🇾 Syria676.0
45🇦🇸 American Samoa675.4
46🇸🇧 Solomon Islands645.8
47🇨🇦 Canada635.7
48🇮🇶 Iraq605.4
49🇩🇴 Dominican Republic585.6
50🇧🇩 Bangladesh574.9
51🇦🇱 Albania565.4
52🇮🇹 Italy555.4
53🇦🇿 Azerbaijan544.9
54🇲🇰 North Macedonia485.4
55🇧🇬 Bulgaria445.2
56🇦🇲 Armenia434.9
57🇱🇾 Libya425.3
58🇬🇪 Georgia424.9
59🇧🇷 Brazil406.6
60🇳🇵 Nepal385.0
61🇴🇲 Oman375.0
62🇲🇫 Saint Martin365.0
62🇦🇮 Anguilla365.0
64🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands345.6
65🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia344.9
66🇲🇳 Mongolia335.0
67🇼🇫 Wallis and Futuna325.5
68🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands315.0
69🇨🇽 Christmas Island305.2
70🇦🇪 UAE305.1
71🇧🇱 Saint Barthelemy305.0
72🇹🇿 Tanzania285.0
73🇳🇺 Niue265.6
74🇭🇷 Croatia265.4
75🇹🇲 Turkmenistan264.8
76🇬🇩 Grenada246.0
77🇰🇼 Kuwait244.9
78🇪🇷 Eritrea235.4
79🇨🇾 Cyprus234.9
80🇽🇰 Kosovo225.4
81🇶🇦 Qatar225.1
82🇲🇸 Montserrat225.0
82🇲🇾 Malaysia225.0
82🇰🇳 Saint Kitts
and Nevis
225.0
85🇻🇨 Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines
224.9
86🇹🇹 Trinidad
and Tobago
216.0
87🇧🇹 Bhutan214.5
88🇲🇪 Montenegro205.4
89🇬🇵 Guadeloupe205.0
89🇦🇬 Antigua
and Barbuda
205.0
89🇩🇲 Dominica205.0
92🇭🇹 Haiti195.9
93🇾🇪 Yemen195.4
94🇨🇺 Cuba186.8
95🇱🇦 Laos185.1
95🇻🇳 Vietnam185.1
97🇩🇿 Algeria185.0
97🇸🇯 Svalbard and
Jan Mayen
185.0
99🇷🇴 Romania175.2
100🇧🇦 Bosnia and
Herzegovina
165.4

Note: Rankings determined by stronger magnitude for countries with the same # of earthquakes. For matching magnitudes, rankings are tied.

Japan ranked third (1,563) but one of them was both the strongest and deadliest of the year. The Noto earthquake hit on New Year’s day, causing widespread damage and destruction and triggering a tsunami.

More than 500 people died, and it became Japan’s second-deadliest quake after the one in 2011.

These three countries are usually at the top of the rankings every year. And a quick glance at the map reveals why. All three are near convergent plate boundaries and this causes frequent earthquakes.

On the other hand, Sub-Saharan Africa is a notable blank spot on the map. This is because most of the region sits well-within the African plate, far from its boundaries to the north and west.

However, towards the east, the African plate is splitting, with the minor Somali plate moving away, causing earthquakes for Ethiopia and Tanzania.

Major Earthquakes in 2025

The 2025 Myanmar Earthquake is the deadliest of the year so far (7.7), killing more than 3,000 people.

It occurred along the Sagaing Fault, which is a transform boundary between the Indian plate and the Sunda plate. The epicenter was close to the country’s second-largest city and neighboring China and Thailand also felt the effects.

In terms of pure numbers, Indonesia has seen the most earthquakes so far in 2024, (511), with Mexico just behind (475).

Greece, Turkiye, and China round out the current top five.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

Want more insight on the 2024 Noto Earthquake? Creator Preyash visualized the epicenter on a map in their graphic, Tremors of Resilience: Japan, for a bird’s-eye view of the affected regions.

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