Pronunciation: tho-toh-bo-lo-sor-us
Meaning: Trash heap lizard
Author/s: Ellenberger (1970)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Maphutseng, Lesotho
Discovery Chart Position: #
Thotobolosaurus mabeatae
"Thotobolosaurus"—the Trash Heap Lizard—is a nickname coined by Paul Ellenberger for remains he found near a pile of junk outside the hut of an elderly native lady called Mabeata in the Lesotho Village of Maphutseng, and many reckon that's where he probably should've left them.
It was discovered in 1955, had to wait 15 years for its first mention, and although its fossils have been referred to in the scientific literature several times since the 1970's—including an outing in 1996 as "Kholumolumosaurus ellenbergerorum" in François-Xavier Gauffre's unpublished dissertation—they still haven't been formally described. We can't help thinking that Ellenberger may be having second thoughts about the validity of his own critter. Or maybe he's just a... really... slow... worker...
"Thotobolosaurus" may be a Triassic prosauropod, or perhaps an early sauropod, both of which are known from bucket-loads of fragmentary fossils from the same area. But until it's remains are enrobed in an official description, it will remain a nomen nudum.
It was discovered in 1955, had to wait 15 years for its first mention, and although its fossils have been referred to in the scientific literature several times since the 1970's—including an outing in 1996 as "Kholumolumosaurus ellenbergerorum" in François-Xavier Gauffre's unpublished dissertation—they still haven't been formally described. We can't help thinking that Ellenberger may be having second thoughts about the validity of his own critter. Or maybe he's just a... really... slow... worker...
"Thotobolosaurus" may be a Triassic prosauropod, or perhaps an early sauropod, both of which are known from bucket-loads of fragmentary fossils from the same area. But until it's remains are enrobed in an official description, it will remain a nomen nudum.
(Mabeata's Trash Heap Lizard)Etymology
"Thotobolosaurus" is derived from the Sesotho South African "Thotobolo" (trash heap) because of its discovery beside a trash heap, and the Greek "sauros" (lizard). The species epithet, mabeatae, honors Mabeata ("Mother of Beata" in Sesotho South African): an elderly woman who owned the hut that the trash heap was outside of. We have no idea who Beata is, or if he/she was responsible for taking out the trash.
Discovery
The remains of "Thotobolosaurus" were discovered at Maphutseng in the Lower Elliot Formation of Western Lesotho by Paul Ellenberger in 1955.
A holotype has yet to be assigned.
