Erketu ellisoni, the Looooooong-Necked Sauropod
How long was it? Researchers estimate Erketu ellisoni’s neck to be around 24 feet long. Twice the size of its body!
It doesn’t have the longest neck. That record belongs to another sauropod, Mamenchisauris hochuanensis, which had a neck length estimated at 49 feet! However, E. ellisoni may now hold the record for the longest neck to body ratio.
Nature’s article, Heads up: the dinosaur with the longest neck, gives a nice summary. But if you are feeling ambitious you can read researchers, Daniel Ksepka and Mark Norell’s full report, Erketu ellisoni, a Long-Necked Sauropod from Bor Guvé (Dornogov Aimag, Mongolia).
(illustration by Jason Brougham)
E. ellisoni was found in Mongolia during an expedition in 2002. Unfortunatly, it was found without a head!
The meaning behind the name for this new species:
Erketu - In Mongolian shamanistic tradition, there are 99 Tengri (deities). Erketu Tengri is the Mighty Tengri, a creator-god who called Yesu gei, the father of Chingis Khan, into being.
ellisoni - In honor of Mick Ellison, for his contributions to ongoing AMNH dinosaur research.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Superorder: Dinosauria
Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Sauropodomorpha
Infraorder: Sauropoda
Division Neosauropoda
Subdivision Macronaria
Superfamily Titanosauriformes
Family: Somphospondyli
on June 22nd, 2006 at 6:14 pm
[…] Check out another recently described sauropod, Erketu ellisoni. […]
on August 28th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
[…] If you like sauropods you may be interested in two other recently described dinosaurs: the mini Europasaurus holgeri, and the long necked Erketu ellisoni […]