description Dromomeron romeri Overview
Dromomeron romeri is a basal dinosauromorph from the Late Triassic Chinle Formation of the southwestern United States, first described in 2007 from specimens found in New Mexico. It belongs to Lagerpetidae, a family of small bipedal archosaurs considered among the closest relatives to true dinosaurs. The genus name combines Greek words meaning 'running femur,' while the species honors paleontologist Alfred Romer. Growing to approximately 50-70 centimeters in length, Dromomeron represents an important transitional form documenting the evolutionary stages between earlier archosaurs and the first dinosaurs.
help Dromomeron romeri FAQ
Where was Dromomeron romeri discovered?
The species was found in the Late Triassic Chinle Formation of New Mexico, including the Hayden Quarry area at Ghost Ranch. Its 2007 description helped establish the importance of the site for early dinosauromorph research.
Was Dromomeron romeri a dinosaur?
No, it was a lagerpetid dinosauromorph, a close dinosaur relative rather than a true dinosaur. Its anatomy helps show that dinosaur relatives lived alongside the earliest dinosaurs instead of disappearing immediately when dinosaurs appeared.
What is the connection between Dromomeron romeri and Lagerpeton?
Both belong to Lagerpetidae, a group of small, lightly built archosaurs close to the dinosaur lineage. Lagerpeton was known from Argentina, while Dromomeron romeri provided important North American evidence for the group.
What fossil represents Dromomeron romeri?
The type specimen is a left femur catalogued as GR 218 from Hayden Quarry at Ghost Ranch. Additional material includes other femora and related hind-limb bones, so the species is known mainly through its leg anatomy.
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