In Depth Originally named as a species of Camptosaurus 1909 (Gilmore), and then later Planicoxa in 2008 (Carpenter & Wilson), Osmakasaurus was established as a new genus for partial post cranial remains that establish this genus. The species name ‘depressus’ has been retained to create the type species, which is standard procedure when naming a … Read more
In Depth Hamititan is a genus of titanosaurian dinosaur that lived in Asia during the early Cretaceous. Further reading - The first dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous Hami Pterosaur Fauna, China”. Scientific Reports. 11 (1): Article number 14962. - X Wang - K. L. Bandeira R. Qiu, S. Jiang, X. Cheng, Y. Ma & A. … Read more
In Depth Oreopithecus is a paradox as while it is amongst the best known of fossil apes, there is still much confusion over how this primate lived and was related to other primates. This confusion is down to how Oreopithecus displays features that both suggest an arboreal life where it swung through the tree canopy, … Read more
In Depth Trigodon seems to have been a large heavily built herbivore of the late Miocene of South America. Combined with reasonably long legs for its build, Trigodon is considered to have inhabited wetland swamps were it browsed upon softer vegetation. The most striking feature of Trigodon is the spiked horn that rises from the … Read more
In Depth Zygophyseter was a raptorial sperm whale that is sometimes called the ‘killer sperm whale’. Discovered in southern Italy, Zygophyseter is confirmed to have been active in the Paratethys Sea which today is represented by the Mediterranean, Black, Caspian and Aral Seas. However back in the Miocene the sea levels were much higher which … Read more
In Depth With a wingspan of at least a hundred and seventy-three centimetres Sericipterus was big for a basal pterosaur.It should be realised that the name which translates to ‘silk wing’ is not a reference to the appearance of the wings, but the fact that Sericipterus comes from an area that had the old ‘silk … Read more
In Depth Although it had a skull more like that of a big cat, Epicyon was an early ancestor to canines. Epicyon is noted for having an incredibly powerful body that may have weighed up to one hundred and seventy kilograms (for Epicyon haydeni). Its unusually shaped skull meant that Epicyon had a very short … Read more
In Depth Pristerodon is a genus of dicynodont that lived during the late Permian. Like relative genera, Pristerodon was a plant eater and likely dug out burrows on flood plains. Analysis of one Pristerodon has revealed the presence of an eardrum in the lower jaw. Not only has this given us an insight into how … Read more
In Depth Caseosaurus is recorded as being a genus of small theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now the South Western USA back during the Triassic. However, since being named in 1998, many have speculated that Caseosaurus may actually be synonymous with the genus Chindesaurus which was named earlier in 1995. If true then … Read more
In Depth Although the original fossil material for Ferganasaurus was discovered in 1966, it was subsequently lost with only drawings of the original specimens remaining. A new expedition was launched at the original fossil site in 2000, and this yielded further bones. Despite this new material, and the drawings of the originals, both the skull … Read more