Kholumolumo

monster (from Basotho legend)

• Kholumolumo · Sesotho · a mythical giant monster that swallowed people in Basotho legend

Kholumolumo is named after a gigantic, all-devouring monster from Basotho (Sesotho) folklore. Thulborn chose the name because the fossils came from Lesotho and the animal was very large. The species name, ellenbergerorum, honours the Ellenberger family, who collected and studied the fossils.

Named by

Thulborn

Year named

1980

Period

Late Triassic

Found in

Lower Elliot Formation, Lesotho

A large early sauropodomorph (a "prosauropod"), type species Kholumolumo ellenbergerorum. Its validity is debated. Some researchers regard it as very close to, or a possible junior synonym of, Euskelosaurus. The stage-level age is not given here because I am not certain of it.