Pronunciation: THA-nah-toe-theh-RISS-teez
Meaning: Reaper of Death
Author/s: Vorisa et al. (2020)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Alberta, Canada
Discovery Chart Position: #1022
Thanatotheristes degrootorum
(DeGroot's Reaper of Death)Etymology
Thanatotheristes is derived from the Greek "thánatos" (death) and "theristes" (reaper/harvester).
The species epithet, degrootorum, honours John and Sandra DeGroot of Hays, Alberta, who found the holotype specimen and have been supportive of paleontological research in the area.
We were hoping for Thanos and Groot. Alas, no. Zoobank registry: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:581C0612-B697-4D01-915C-E3E937D3667A.
Discovery
The first remains of Thanatotheristes were discovered in the Foremost Formation (Belly River Group), scattered at the base of a steep cliff on the eastern shore of the Bow River, approximately 0.5 km upstream of "The Fork" where it merges with the Oldman River, Alberta, Canada, by local ranchers John and Sandra DeGroot in 2008.The holotype (TMP 2010.5.7) is the partial skull (estimated total length 800mm) of a subadult individual.
Referred material includes TMP 2018.016.0001 (a partial right upper jaw bone from a subadult individual) that was found along Twelve Mile Coulee, approximately 10 km northeast of Hays, Alberta, in the Herronton Sandstone of the Foremost Formation.
Preparator
Dawna Macleod.
