Erketu

Named after Erketü, a Mongolian mythological figure

• Erketu · Mongolian · Erketü, a figure from Mongolian tradition

Erketu is a long-necked sauropod from Mongolia. Its name comes from Erketü, a figure from Mongolian tradition. The name was chosen to suit the animal's extremely elongated neck, which is its best-known feature. The only species, Erketu ellisoni, honours Mick Ellison, the American Museum of Natural History artist and photographer.

Named by

Ksepka and Norell

Year named

2006

Period

Late Cretaceous

Found in

Bor Guvé, Dornogovi Province, Mongolia (Baynshire Formation)

Erketu is a titanosauriform sauropod. It is known from partial remains that include very long neck vertebrae. Its exact position within Titanosauriformes is debated. I'm less sure of the exact details of the mythological origin of the name, and I haven't given a specific geologic stage.