Pelorosaurus

Pelorosaurus
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous, 132 Ma
Holotype humerus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Sauropodomorpha
Clade: Sauropoda
Clade: Macronaria
Family: Brachiosauridae
Genus: Pelorosaurus
Mantell, 1850
Species:
P. brevis
Binomial name
Pelorosaurus brevis
(Owen, 1842)
Synonyms
  • Cetiosaurus brevis Owen, 1842
  • Cetiosaurus conybeari Melville, 1849

Pelorosaurus (/pəˌlɒrˈsɔːrəs/ pə-LORR-oh-SOR-əs; meaning "monstrous lizard") is a genus of titanosauriform sauropod dinosaur. Remains referred to Pelorosaurus date from the Early Cretaceous period, about 140-125 million years ago, and have been found in England and Portugal.[citation needed] Thomas Holtz estimated its length at 24 meters (79 feet).[1]

The name Pelorosaurus was one of the first to be given to any sauropod. Many species have been assigned to the genus historically, but most are currently considered to belong to other genera. Problematically, the first named species of Pelorosaurus, P. conybeari, is a junior synonym of Cetiosaurus brevis.

  1. ^ Holtz Jr., Thomas R. (2012). "Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages" (PDF).