Kholumolumo
Kholumolumo was a huge, long-necked dinosaur that lived in what is now Lesotho. It was one of the biggest animals of its time, growing up to 9 metres long! Scientists think it walked on two legs and ate plants.12
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Fun facts
Kholumolumo was one of the largest known animals of the Norian stage of the Late Triassic, about 210 million years ago.1
Its shinbone is very short and robust, with a circumference that is 53% of its length. That is a higher ratio than in most other early sauropodomorphs.1
The first bones were found in 1930 by a school principal named Samuel Motsoane, but the main discovery was made in 1955 near a trash heap called Thotobolo ea 'Ma-Beata.1
The fossils represent at least five, probably about ten, individual dinosaurs, making it the most complete sauropodomorph from the lower Elliot Formation.12
Kholumolumo was originally nicknamed 'Thotobolosaurus' which means 'trash heap lizard' because of where it was found.1
Most asked questions about Kholumolumo
?How big was Kholumolumo?
It grew up to 9 metres (30 ft) long. If it walked on two legs, it weighed about 1754 kg; if on all fours, about 3963 kg.1
?What did Kholumolumo eat?
Scientists think it was a herbivore, meaning it ate plants. This is based on its close relatives like Sarahsaurus.1
?When did Kholumolumo live?
It lived during the Late Triassic, about 210 million years ago, in the Norian stage.1
?Where was Kholumolumo found?
Its fossils were discovered near a trash heap called Thotobolo ea 'Ma-Beata in Maphutseng, Lesotho.1
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Myth buster
Myth: Some people think Kholumolumo was a type of dragon or crocodile.
Truth: Kholumolumo was a dinosaur, specifically a sauropodomorph, and not a dragon or crocodile. Its name comes from a Sotho myth about a giant reptile.1
For dino experts
- Scientific name
- Kholumolumo
- Named by
- Peyre de Fabrègues and Allain 20203
- Group
- Long-necks
- Family / clade
- Sauropodomorpha3
- Classification
- Sauropodomorpha3
- Age of the rocks
- 227 to 206 million years (Norian)3
- Rock formations
- Elliot3
- Countries
- Lesotho3
- Fossil records
- 1 in the Paleobiology Database3
- Discovery
- The first bones were found in 1930 by Samuel Motsoane. In 1955, missionaries Paul and François Ellenberger uncovered a bonebed near Maphutseng, Lesotho. The species was formally named Kholumolumo ellenbergerorum in 2020 by Claire Peyre de Fabrègues and Ronan Allain.1
- Still debated
- Scientists are not sure whether Kholumolumo walked on two legs or four legs. The weight estimate changes a lot depending on its posture.1
Where the facts come from
- Kholumolumo (en.wikipedia.org)
- [dinosaur] Kholumolumo, new sauropodomorph from Upper Triassic of Lesotho (dml.reptilis.net)
- Kholumolumo in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.
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