Erketu is a genus of somphospondylan sauropod dinosaur that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous period, between 96 million and 89 million years ago. Its fossils were found in Mongolia during a field expedition between 2002 and 2003 and were first described in 2006. Erketu is known for its long neck, which was made up of 15 vertebrae, and its sharp claws.
Erketu was a member of the family Therizinosauridae, which were herbivorous dinosaurs characterized by their long necks and sometimes feathered bodies. It measured about 6 meters in length and is estimated to have weighed around 1 ton. Erketu is known from articulated cervical vertebrae, a sternal plate, and an articulated lower leg.
The discovery of Erketu provides valuable insights into the evolution and diversity of sauropod dinosaurs in Asia during the Late Cretaceous. Its fossils are important for understanding the paleobiology and paleoecology of these animals, as well as their relationships to other dinosaur groups. Further research on Erketu and other sauropods will continue to shed light on the fascinating world of dinosaurs and their place in Earth’s history.
Discovery
Discovering Team
Erketu was first discovered in 2002 by a team of paleontologists from the American Museum of Natural History and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences. The team was conducting an expedition in Mongolia and stumbled upon the remains of the new locality Bor Guvé.
Location
The locality where the first remains of Erketu were found is located in Mongolia and overlies the Khara Kuthul locality. It is referable to the Bayan Shireh Formation.
Year
Erketu was discovered in 2002, during a field expedition conducted by the American Museum of Natural History and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences. The discovery of Erketu has provided important insights into the evolution and diversity of therizinosaurids in Mongolia.
Description
Erketu is a genus of dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 90 million years ago, in what is now Mongolia. Its name means “Erketü Tengri” and was named after the Mongolian deity Erkhii Mergen, who is associated with water and healing.
Physical Characteristics
Erketu was a sauropod dinosaur, which means it had a long neck and tail, and a small head. It had a long, slender neck with 17 cervical vertebrae, which allowed it to reach high vegetation. Its forelimbs were shorter than its hindlimbs, and it walked on all four legs. Erketu had a wide body, with a deep chest and a broad pelvis. Its tail was long and whip-like, and it was used for balance and communication.
Size Comparison
Erketu was a large dinosaur, measuring up to 15 meters (50 feet) in length and weighing up to 10 tons. It was smaller than some of the other sauropods that lived during the same time period, such as Argentinosaurus, which could reach lengths of up to 40 meters (130 feet) and weigh up to 100 tons. However, Erketu was still one of the largest animals to ever walk the earth.
Classification
Taxonomy
Erketu is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 90 million years ago, in what is now Mongolia. It was named after the Mongolian deity Erkhii Mergen, who is associated with water and healing. The taxonomic classification of Erketu is as follows: Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropodomorpha, Sauropoda, Eusauropoda, Neosauropoda, Macronaria, Camarasauromorpha, Titanosauriformes, Titanosauria. The type species is ellisoni.
Phylogeny
Erketu is a basal somphospondylian, which is a clade of all macronarians closer to titanosaurs than to brachiosaurids, and is most closely related to Titanosauria, being a close relative of Euhelopus. The phylogenetic analysis of sauropods performed by its describers indicates that Erketu is a basal somphospondylian, which is a clade of all macronarians closer to titanosaurs than to brachiosaurids, and is most closely related to Titanosauria, being a close relative of Euhelopus.
Overall, Erketu is an important dinosaur genus that provides valuable insights into the evolution and diversity of sauropod dinosaurs during the Late Cretaceous period.
Paleobiology
Diet
Erketu was a herbivorous dinosaur, belonging to the family Therizinosauridae. These dinosaurs were characterized by their long necks, sharp claws, and sometimes feathered bodies. Erketu’s diet primarily consisted of plants, which it would have used its sharp claws to gather and tear apart. It is estimated that Erketu weighed around 1 ton and measured about 6 meters in length.
Habitat
Erketu lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous period, roughly between 96 million and 89 million years ago. Its fossils were found in Mongolia between 2002 and 2003 during a field expedition. Erketu would have lived in a variety of environments, including forests and open grasslands.
Behavior
Erketu was a long-necked sauropod dinosaur that likely traveled in herds for protection against predators. Its long neck, which was made up of 15 vertebrae, would have allowed it to reach vegetation that other dinosaurs couldn’t. Erketu also had sharp claws, which it likely used for defense against predators or for gathering food.
Fossil Record
Erketu is a sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 125 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in Mongolia between 2002 and 2003, and were first described in 2006. The fossils were found in the Bayan Shireh Formation, which is known for its rich dinosaur fossil record.
Fossil Sites
The Bayan Shireh Formation is a well-known site for dinosaur fossils, and has yielded numerous important discoveries over the years. The formation is located in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, and is made up of layers of sandstone, mudstone, and conglomerate. The fossils of Erketu were found in one of the sandstone layers.
Specimen Preservation
The fossils of Erketu were well-preserved, and included several vertebrae, ribs, and limb bones. The fossils were carefully excavated and prepared by a team of paleontologists, and are now housed in the collection of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences.
The preservation of the fossils has allowed scientists to study the anatomy and evolution of Erketu in detail. For example, the fossils have revealed that Erketu had a long neck and tail, and that its limbs were adapted for supporting its massive body weight. The fossils have also provided important clues about the environment in which Erketu lived, including the types of plants and animals that were present at the time.
Cultural Impact
In Popular Media
Erketu, a somphospondylan sauropod dinosaur, has not gained much attention in popular media. However, it was named after Tengri, the creator god of Mongolia, which highlights the cultural significance of this dinosaur in Mongolia. The name Erketu means “Erketü Tengri,” which translates to “God of the Sky.”
Scientific Significance
Erketu is a relatively new discovery, and its fossils were found in Mongolia between 2002 and 2003. Its discovery has contributed to the scientific community’s understanding of the diversity of sauropod dinosaurs during the Late Cretaceous period. The long neck of Erketu, made up of 15 vertebrae, is one of its most distinctive features. This suggests that Erketu may have had a longer reach for browsing on vegetation.
Erketu’s hindlimb material also suggests its approximate body size, which is estimated to be around 11,023 lb (5,000 kg) and 49 ft (15 m) in length. The large, sharp claws on its feet suggest that it may have been a therizinosaur, a group of herbivorous dinosaurs known for their large claws and long necks.
Overall, Erketu’s discovery adds to the scientific understanding of sauropod dinosaurs and highlights the cultural significance of dinosaurs in Mongolia.