Gigantoscelus

giant leg

• gigas / gigantos · Greek · giant
• skelos · Greek · leg

The name combines the Greek "gigantos" (giant) and "skelos" (leg), referring to the notably large limb bones that characterized the specimen. It was named to emphasize the impressive size of the animal as inferred from its fossil remains. The name reflects a common Victorian-era naming convention of highlighting a striking anatomical feature.

Named by

van Hoepen

Year named

1916

Period

Late Triassic

Stage

Norian

Found in

Elliot Formation, South Africa

Gigantoscelus is considered a nomen dubium. It was described from fragmentary material (large limb bones) from the upper Elliot Formation of South Africa, and the remains are not diagnostic enough to confidently assign to a valid taxon. It is thought to represent a large sauropodomorph (prosauropod-grade dinosaur), but its exact affinities are uncertain. Not to be confused with the theropod Giganotosaurus.