Achillobator

Achilles hero

• Achillo- · Latinized Greek · Achilles, referring to the Achilles tendon and the Greek hero
• bator · Mongolian · hero

The name combines Achilles, the Greek hero of the Trojan War, with the Mongolian word "bator" meaning "hero". It refers to the Achilles tendon, which the describers thought was strongly developed in this dromaeosaurid, and to the Mongolian tradition of "bator" as a name element for heroes. The type species is Achillobator giganticus, noted for its large size for a dromaeosaurid.

Named by

Perle, Norell and Clark

Year named

1999

Period

Late Cretaceous

Found in

Bayan Shireh Formation, Dornogovi Province, Mongolia

A large dromaeosaurid theropod, one of the biggest known members of the family. The Achilles-tendon reference reflects the authors' interpretation of the heel region; the name also plays on the hero theme.