Brontomerus Facts
Pronunciation: BRON-toe-MEE-rus
Name meaning: Thunder Thigh
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 4m |
| Length | 14m |
| Weight | 12 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | United States |
Brontomerus was a remarkable sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 121 million years ago. This long-necked giant roamed what is now Utah in the United States, browsing on the abundant plant life of its time. Despite being known from incomplete remains, Brontomerus has captured the imagination of palaeontologists due to its extraordinary hip anatomy.
What sets Brontomerus apart from other sauropods is its unusually robust hip bones, which would have supported the largest thigh muscles, proportionally speaking, of any known sauropod. These powerful muscles suggest that Brontomerus was capable of remarkable feats of strength, possibly using its muscular legs for self-defence by rearing up on its hind legs or delivering powerful kicks to predators. The creature's name, meaning 'thunder thigh', perfectly captures this distinctive feature.
As a herbivore, Brontomerus would have used its long neck to reach vegetation at various heights, from ground-level ferns to tall conifer trees. Its teeth were adapted for stripping leaves rather than chewing, so like other sauropods, it likely swallowed stones to help grind up plant material in its stomach. The dinosaur probably lived in herds, providing protection through numbers whilst moving across the landscape in search of fresh feeding grounds.
Though classified as a camarasauromorph sauropod, Brontomerus's exact evolutionary relationships remain somewhat uncertain due to the incomplete nature of the fossil material. Nevertheless, it represents an important piece in understanding the diversity of sauropod dinosaurs during the Early Cretaceous period.
What made Brontomerus distinctive?
Brontomerus possessed extraordinarily robust hip bones that supported the largest thigh muscles, proportionally, of any known sauropod dinosaur. These powerful leg muscles would have given it exceptional kicking ability and strength compared to other long-necked dinosaurs.
Behaviour
Brontomerus likely used its exceptionally powerful leg muscles for defence, possibly rearing up on its hind legs or delivering devastating kicks to predators. It probably lived in herds like other sauropods, using its long neck to browse on vegetation at different heights whilst remaining alert for danger.
Discovery
Brontomerus was first described by Mike Taylor, Mathew Wedel, and Richard Cifelli in 2011. The original fossils were discovered at Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, USA.
Brontomerus FAQ
What did Brontomerus eat?
Brontomerus was a herbivore that fed on the abundant plant life of the
Early Cretaceous period. It would have used its long neck to reach vegetation at various heights, from ground-level ferns and cycads to the leaves of tall conifer trees, stripping foliage with its teeth.
How big was Brontomerus?
Brontomerus reached approximately 14 metres in length and stood about 4 metres tall at the hip. It weighed an estimated 12 tonnes, making it a substantial but not exceptionally large sauropod compared to giants like Argentinosaurus.
When did Brontomerus live?
Brontomerus lived during the
Early Cretaceous period, approximately 121.4 million years ago. This was a time when flowering plants were beginning to diversify and many new types of dinosaurs were evolving.
Where was Brontomerus found?
Brontomerus fossils were discovered in the Cedar Mountain Formation of Utah, United States. This geological formation has yielded many important dinosaur discoveries from the
Early Cretaceous period.
How do you pronounce Brontomerus?
Brontomerus is pronounced 'BRON-toe-MEE-rus', with emphasis on the first and third syllables. The name combines the Greek words for 'thunder' and 'thigh'.
What does Brontomerus mean?
Brontomerus means 'thunder thigh' in Greek, referring to the dinosaur's extraordinarily powerful leg muscles. This name perfectly captures the most distinctive feature of this sauropod dinosaur.
How fast could Brontomerus run?
The running speed of Brontomerus is unknown, but its powerful leg muscles suggest it may have been more agile than typical sauropods. However, like most large sauropods, it was likely built more for strength than speed.
What type of dinosaur was Brontomerus?
Brontomerus was a sauropod dinosaur, specifically classified as a camarasauromorph. These were long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs that walked on four legs and were among the largest land animals ever to exist.
Was Brontomerus related to birds?
Like all dinosaurs, Brontomerus was distantly related to modern birds, but sauropods like Brontomerus were not direct ancestors of birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, which were bipedal carnivores, not long-necked herbivores.
How many Brontomerus fossils have been found?
Brontomerus is known from incomplete fossil remains, including parts of the distinctive hip bones that gave it its name. The fragmentary nature of the material makes it challenging to fully understand this dinosaur's anatomy and evolutionary relationships.
