A Newly Discovered Monstersaur Named Bolg amondol
A recent paleontological discovery has unveiled a fascinating new species of prehistoric reptile that once roamed alongside giant dinosaurs. Dubbed as Bolg amondol, this creature has been described as a colossal lizard resembling a Gila monster, with a name that carries an air of fantasy and royalty.
The moniker Bolg amondol translates to “mound-headed goblin prince” in the Elvish language created by J.R.R. Tolkien. According to Hank Woolley, a paleontologist from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s Dinosaur Institute, the name Bolg resonates well with the goblin prince character from Tolkien’s The Hobbit, given the goblin-like appearance of these ancient reptiles.
Although the bones of Bolg have been stored in museum collections since 2006, it was only recently that they were examined and identified as a distinct species. Despite the fragmentary nature of the skeleton, researchers were able to place Bolg within its evolutionary lineage and classify it as a new species.
Bolg belongs to the Monstersauria clade, which includes the modern Gila monster found in the same region. While contemporary Gila monsters reach lengths of about 50 centimeters, Bolg is estimated to have been significantly larger.
Woolley suggests that Bolg could have measured up to three feet from tip to tail, or possibly even larger, making it a formidable creature akin to a Savannah monitor lizard in size.
Discovered in Utah, United States, Bolg lived approximately 76 million years ago, coexisting with dinosaurs towards the end of their era. Interestingly, its closest known relative hails from Asia’s Gobi Desert, highlighting the ability of ancient reptiles to traverse vast distances across connected continents.
This groundbreaking find not only enhances our understanding of Monstersauria’s evolutionary history but also sheds light on the diverse array of non-dinosaur reptiles that inhabited Earth alongside their more renowned counterparts.
The research detailing Bolg amondol has been published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
