BRONTOSAURUS PARVUS Meaning and
Definition
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Brontosaurus parvus refers to a species of large sauropod dinosaur that existed during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 155-152 million years ago. The term "brontosaurus" is derived from the Greek words "bronto," meaning thunderous or loud, and "sauros," meaning lizard or reptile. Parvus, on the other hand, originates from Latin and translates to small or little.
Characterized by their immense size, Brontosaurus parvus belonged to a group of long-necked and herbivorous dinosaurs known as sauropods. They exhibited a large body with a long neck, tail, and pillar-like legs. While considered smaller than their relatives, they still measured roughly 20-24 meters (65-80 feet) in length and weighed around 15-20 metric tons.
They possessed a distinctive skull with spoon-shaped teeth adapted for consuming plant material. These dinosaurs are believed to have grazed on low-lying vegetation, utilizing their long necks to reach high tree canopies. Brontosaurus parvus likely lived in herds and used their size and strength as defense mechanisms against potential predators.
The taxonomy and classification of Brontosaurus parvus have historically faced some confusion due to reclassifications and synonymizations with other dinosaur species. Nevertheless, it remains a significant representative of the sauropod family and contributes to the scientific understanding of the prehistoric world.
Etymology of BRONTOSAURUS PARVUS
The term "brontosaurus parvus" is a combination of two words with distinct etymologies.
1. Brontosaurus: The word "brontosaurus" comes from Greek roots. "Brontē" means "thunder", and "sauros" translates to "lizard" or "reptile". The name was coined by the American paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh in 1879 when he first described the dinosaur. It was believed to be an accurate representation of a long-necked, herbivorous sauropod dinosaur.
However, in 1903, it was discovered that "brontosaurus" and another previously named dinosaur, "apatosaurus", were actually the same genus. The earlier name "apatosaurus", coined by Marsh in 1877, takes precedence as the official name for the dinosaur.
