Brontomerus

thunder thigh

• bronte · Greek · thunder
• meros · Greek · thigh

The name combines the Greek words for "thunder" and "thigh", giving "thunder thighs". It refers to the very large thigh muscles that the animal's broad, expanded upper hip bone (ilium) suggests it had. The authors proposed these muscles might have been used for powerful kicks, perhaps to fend off predators such as Utahraptor, or for traversing rough terrain. The only species, B. mcintoshi, honours sauropod researcher John S. McIntosh.

Named by

Taylor, Wedel and Cifelli

Year named

2011

Period

Early Cretaceous

Stages

Aptian – Albian

Found in

Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, USA

A sauropod dinosaur, generally considered a macronarian. It is known from fragmentary remains. The age within the Early Cretaceous is approximate (Aptian–Albian) and has been refined or debated.