Construction Reveals European‑rooted Sauropod

A previously unknown 66‑foot sauropod (Dasosaurus tocantinensis) was found during rail‑terminal construction in Maranhão, Brazil; phylogenetic analysis links it to an Iberian relative and suggests land dispersal through Africa 120–140 million years ago and an earlier emergence of bone‑remodeling enabling giant size. The team credits fossil‑protection laws and project monitoring for making the recovery possible. — Highlights how routine infrastructure work intersects with scientific heritage and shows that conservation and monitoring rules materially affect scientific knowledge and cultural assets.