Fun Brontomerus Facts For Kids

Brontomerus mcintoshi, or Brontomerus mcintoshi, from the Early Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era, comes under the group of largest sauropod and also one of the most uniquely named species. Prominently by the name 'Thunder Thighs', this species from the Early Cretaceous lived through the Albian stage of the period as its remains were found in the Cedar Mountain Formation, Eastern Utah. History has known this creature through very few fragmented pieces, including adult and juvenile dinosaur remnants. Back in the day, when sauropods were known to be gentle and calm, thunder thighs sauropod was believed to deliver a kick with its strong limbs to other smaller dinosaurs. The search for this creature was accomplished by a team of experts from Oklahoma's Sam Noble Museum of Norman, including Michael p. Taylor, Richard L. Cifelli, and Mathew J, who found remains of two dinosaurs of the same species. The species discovered in 1994 and 1995 was finally named in 2011 by the same team of Taylor, Wedel, and Cifelli.

How do you pronounce 'Brontomerus'?

Brontomerus is pronounced as Bron-toe-meh-rus.

What type of dinosaur was a Brontomerus?

Brontomerus was one of its kind sauropods, possibly a Camarasauromrph Sauropod. The species is most prominently known for being the 'most muscular dinosaur' or 'thunder thighs', courtesy of its supposedly massive thigh muscles.

In which geological period did the Brontomerus roam the Earth?

Brontomerus roamed across the Earth during the Early Cretaceous geological period, around the Aptian or Albian age of the Cretaceous, in Utah, USA.

When did the Brontomerus become extinct?

Brontomerus is believed to have gone extinct by the end of the Cretaceous period around 110 million years ago.

Where did a Brontomerus live?

Brontomerus fossils were discovered in the Cedar Mountain Formation of Utah. Researchers believe the species emerged and roamed across the same place, located in the Eastern-most parts of Grand County, Utah, USA.

What was a Brontomerus's habitat?

As researchers say, the Brontomerus environment, like other sauropods, was one composed of open terrestrial features. This type of habitat consists of all types of land features such as drylands, grasslands, aquatic bodies, hilly terrains, marshes, or deserts.

Who did a Brontomerus live with?

Paleontologists say they are yet to find whether or not these dinosaurs lived in flocks or their co-existence with other dinosaur species. It is not known if they were social.

How long did a Brontomerus live?

The life span of a Brontomerus is hard to find out, but other sauropods from the same family lived up to 70-80 years, so it can be assumed Brontomerus had the same life span.

How did they reproduce?

Sauropods are known to be oviparous, which means Brontomerus was an egg-laying dinosaur as well.

What did a Brontomerus look like?

According to the research done on the holotype, Brontomerus carried generic sauropod features. An elongated neck, small head, strong limbs, and a long tail, but what made it different from others were strong thigh muscles. This Early Cretaceous dinosaur fossil carried an unusually strong ilium, which Taylor, Wedel, and Cifelli perceived to have supported strong thigh muscles. Not only did the enlarged ilium symbolize strong, well-developed muscles, but it also noted the possibility of a motion as strong as delivering a kick. Various theories have been coined since then, some related to its predatory behavior while others were implying its possibility of being the first carnivore among sauropods.

How many bones did a Brontomerus have?

The Brontomerus fossil found in North America's Utah comprised partial remains of two different dinosaurs, both belonging to the same species of Brontomerus. The two fossils belonged to an adult and a juvenile dinosaur, supposedly being a mother and child duo. The discovered remains contain the left ilium of the smaller dinosaur, crushed presacral centrum, a large scapula, caudal vertebrae, right-side dorsal rib, and two partial sternal plates. Experts say many fossil pieces were stolen by outsiders, while others were in dire need of restoration; therefore, the team was unable to recover many fossil pieces present at the location back then.

How did they communicate?

Paleontologists have yet to find and study the modes and mediums of communication amid Brontomerus and other neighboring species.

How big was a Brontomerus?

The estimated size of Brontomerus, according to its remains, must've been 46 ft (14 m), 15 ft (4.5 m) tall, with 13227 lb (6000 kg) Brontomerus weight. These estimations are made with reference to both adult and juvenile dinosaurs. Compared to other dinosaur species from the same sauropod family, Brontomerus size prehistoric bestiary referred it to be as big and powerful as other sauropods; for example, the Apatosaurus dinosaur is 15 ft (4.5 m) tall, and the estimated Brontomerus' size and height are similar to it. In addition, though, Brontomerus thighs were more prominent and more powerful than usual sauropods.

How fast could a Brontomerus move?

Brontomerus, owning an unusual ilium capable of massive thigh muscle support, was also one of the reasons the species was said to have moved faster than regular sauropods. The researches done by Taylor, Wedel, and Cifelli say the ilium has attachments for abductor muscles, which means the muscles allow the leg to move away from the body. As a result, the Early Cretaceous species were able to kick predators down, reach higher vegetation, and probably explore hilly terrain with their strong thunder thighs.

How much did a Brontomerus weigh?

Brontomerus weighed around 13227 lb (6000 Kg).

What were the male and female names of the species?

Archives say there are no specific names decided for the male and female species as the little partial remains of the two species are not enough to draw differences between the two and give them a name.

What would you call a baby Brontomerus?

There is no specific name to refer to a baby Brontomerus.

What did they eat?

Brontomerus had a herbivore diet, just like sauropods. Their exact meal is unknown, but their elongated giraffe-like features hinted at the dinosaurs reaching for taller plants in search of food. The Brontomerus did not hunt.

How aggressive were they?

Sauropods are not excessively aggressive, but there may be instances where these species use aggressive methods to deal with predators. Brontomerus, with a strong hip shape and muscular build, was said to have been actively able to kick predators away as a defense mechanism and to fight over mates.

Did you know...

The Brontomerus sauropod remains' taxon is still difficult to identify due to lack of ample fossil evidence.

Deinonychus was probably one of the many predators of that time. The thunder thighs in Brontomerus were possibly developed to fight against such creatures with their enlarged muscle; otherwise, it would have been difficult for other herbivorous species to survive in the same era as Deinonychus. Brontomerus' dimensions may have helped it to take over many such species.

The research team of experts, including Taylor, Wedel, and Cifelli, was an international team composed of students from the University College London, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, and Western University of Health Sciences who would have done research through the early fossils to find clues for the unique species.

The partial remains of Brontomerus were said to have been taken away by earlier visiting private collectors while leaving the last of bones exposed in a disrupted state.

The unusual ilium of Brontomerus supposedly gave it the largest thigh muscles any sauropod ever had. The discovered ilium was very deep, with its front part large in comparison to the back part of the hip socket.

Matthew Wedel believed the terrestrial-habitat-preferring species roamed around places on lands such as dryland, wetland, grasslands, and other spaces, so Brontomerus might have used its strong limbs to climb up on rocky, hilly terrain.

Among a wide variety of interpretations of Brontomerus, people also compare its resemblance to that of a giraffe.

Despite being surrounded by theories, the reliable retrieved data suggests that Brontomerus was faster than other sauropods with its unusual shape.

How did the Brontomerus get its name?

Brontomerus, or Brontomerus mcintoshi, was named by a team of paleontologists Michael P. Taylor, Richard Cifelli, and Mathew Wedel when recovered from the East parts of the Utah region. The species name was given in honor of John "Jack" Stanton McIntosh. The name Brontomerus was created by combining Greek terms 'Bronte', which meant 'thunder', and 'meros', which meant 'thigh', referring to the large, and strong hip bone owning creature.

What's unique about the Brontomerus?

Brontomerus' dimension could be its unique feature. Compared to other sauropod dinosaurs from history, known for their giant stature, scary appearance, and ample fossils, Brontomerus offered next to nothing for research purposes. At last, the remains found by Taylor, Wedel, and Cifelli were enough to create relevant theories and make Brontomerus mcintoshi known as one of the most muscular species. The unusual ilium is probably the unique feature of this dinosaur. 

*Please note that this is an image of a Sauropod, not a Brontomerus. If you have an image of Brontomerus, please let us know at [email protected].