This is really just a quick post because all the action is of course going down at SV-POW. Yes there is a new sauropod on the block and the SV-POW boys, or at least Mike Taylor and Matt Wedel, are in part responsible. So inevitably you can get all the real details there and I am in this case, little more than the messenger.
Still, it’s always nice to talk about a new taxon and I’m sure this guy, named Brontomerus, will be in the news and blogosphere if only for the name. It shares a large part, rather obviously, with the defunct ‘Brontosaurus’ and that I’m sure will go down well. But this is not a thunder-lizard, but a thunder-thighs. Yes, them named it for having, for want of a better phrase, fat legs. It has more going for it than that of course but for the real skinny, hop on over there and take a gander at the first of what could be quite a long series of posts. And watch out for the inevitable avalanche of inaccurate references to Brontosaurus in the media.
Brontomerus life reconstruction. Courtesy of F. Gascó.
It’s “Gascó”….
Thanks, I’ll fix that.
I’ve got to say that I haven’t noted any references to “Brontosaurus” yet from the MSM, although I haven’t looked at all the national papers. Also, both the name Brontomerus and Mike Taylor himself are an absolute gift to the media. “Thunder thighs – it could kick the crap out of them!”
Yeah I’ve been surprised by a general lack so far, though as ever these kinds of things kick-in during the second and third generation of stories. It may yet appear, thouhg I’m pleasantly surprised that it hasn’t yet.
that final image of the Brontomerus punting that little dromaeosaur like a feathery little football was priceless. I don’t care if it’s scientifically likely or accurate or not, with a name that means ‘Thunder Thighs’ I’m gonna assume the artist just couldn’t resist.
I know I couldn’t.