Dromicosaurus Facts
Pronunciation: DROM-ih-co-SORE-us
Name meaning: Quick-walking lizard
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 1.5m |
| Length | 4m |
| Weight | 500 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Triassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | South Africa |
Dromicosaurus is a mysterious sauropod from the Late Triassic or Early Jurassic period, known only from fragmentary skeletal remains discovered in South Africa's Elliot Formation. Named by Dutch palaeontologist Egbert van Hoepen in 1920, this early sauropod lived between 201 and 174 million years ago in what is now the Free State province.
What sets Dromicosaurus apart from its contemporaries is its notably slender leg bones, which earned it the name 'quick-walking lizard'. Unlike the robust limbs of related early sauropods such as Eucnemesaurus, Dromicosaurus appears to have been built for more graceful movement across the ancient landscape. Based on the available fossils, scientists estimate it reached about 4 metres in length and stood approximately 1.5 metres tall at the hip.
As a herbivorous sauropod, Dromicosaurus would have fed on the ferns, cycads, and conifers that dominated the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic world. Its long neck would have allowed it to browse vegetation at various heights, whilst its relatively lightweight build suggests it may have been more active than some of its bulkier relatives.
However, the fragmentary nature of the fossil evidence has made Dromicosaurus a subject of ongoing scientific debate. Many researchers have suggested it might actually represent a species of the better-known Massospondylus, whilst recent studies classify it as an indeterminate sauropodomorph, highlighting how much we still don't know about this intriguing early giant.
What made Dromicosaurus distinctive?
Dromicosaurus possessed unusually slender leg bones compared to other early sauropods of its time. These gracile limbs gave it a more lightly-built appearance than the robust-limbed Eucnemesaurus and other contemporaries from the Elliot Formation.
Behaviour
The slender limb bones of Dromicosaurus suggest it was capable of more agile movement than many early sauropods, potentially allowing it to move quickly when threatened. As a herbivore, it would have spent much of its time browsing on available vegetation using its long neck to reach different feeding heights.
Discovery
Dromicosaurus was first described by Egbert Cornelis Nicolaus van Hoepen in 1920. The original fossils were discovered at Elliot Formation, Free State, South Africa.
Dromicosaurus FAQ
What did Dromicosaurus eat?
Dromicosaurus was a herbivore that fed on the plants available during the Late
Triassic and
Early Jurassic periods, including ferns, cycads, and early conifers. Its long neck would have helped it browse vegetation at different heights.
How big was Dromicosaurus?
Based on the fragmentary fossil evidence, Dromicosaurus is estimated to have been about 4 metres long and stood approximately 1.5 metres tall at the hip, weighing around 500 kilograms. However, these estimates are uncertain due to the incomplete remains.
When did Dromicosaurus live?
Dromicosaurus lived during the Late
Triassic to
Early Jurassic periods, approximately 201 to 174 million years ago. This was a crucial time in dinosaur evolution when the first giant sauropods were beginning to evolve.
Where was Dromicosaurus found?
Dromicosaurus fossils were discovered in the Elliot Formation in the Free State province of South Africa. This formation has been a rich source of early dinosaur fossils from the Late
Triassic and
Early Jurassic periods.
How do you pronounce Dromicosaurus?
Dromicosaurus is pronounced 'DROM-ih-co-SORE-us'. The name breaks down into 'dromic' meaning quick or running, and 'saurus' meaning lizard.
What does Dromicosaurus mean?
Dromicosaurus means 'quick-walking lizard' in Greek. The name refers to the dinosaur's notably slender leg bones, which suggested it was built for more agile movement than its stockier relatives.
How fast could Dromicosaurus run?
While we don't have specific speed estimates for Dromicosaurus, its slender leg bones suggest it was capable of quicker movement than many early sauropods. However, as a large herbivore, it likely moved at a steady walking pace most of the time.
What type of dinosaur was Dromicosaurus?
Dromicosaurus was an early sauropod, part of the group that would later include the largest land animals ever known. However, it's currently classified as an indeterminate sauropodomorph due to the fragmentary nature of the fossil evidence.
Was Dromicosaurus related to birds?
No, Dromicosaurus was not closely related to birds. As a sauropod, it belonged to the saurischian dinosaurs but was part of the sauropodomorph lineage that led to giant long-necked dinosaurs, not the theropod lineage that gave rise to birds.
How many Dromicosaurus fossils have been found?
Only fragmentary skeletal remains of Dromicosaurus have been found since its discovery in 1920. The incomplete nature of these fossils has led to ongoing debates about whether Dromicosaurus represents a distinct genus or might be synonymous with other early sauropods like
Massospondylus.
