In Depth At one meter long Hapalops is not even close to the later giant ground sloths such as Glossotherium and Megatherium, but then groups of large mammals usually have their origins in smaller ancestors. Although not as awe inspiring in terms of size, Hapalops probably could do something that was impossible for its later … Read more
In Depth Kayentatherium is a genus of cynodont therapsid that lived in the south-west USA during the Early Jurassic.Further reading - A new tritylodontid from the Kayenta formation of Arizona. - Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 76:1-17. - D. M. Kermack - 1982. - The Postcranial Skeleton of Kayentatherium wellesi from the Lower Jurassic … Read more
In Depth Remains of Suskityrannus were first announced back in 1998 when the description of the ceratopsian dinosaur Zuniceratops was first published. Back then the fossil remains were thought to have been those of a dromaeosaur, but in 2019, a more detailed analysis of these fossils were published. The name chosen for this dinosaur was … Read more
In Depth Makaracetus is a genus of protocetid whale that lived in Pakistan during the Eocene. The most notable feature of Makaracetus is the strange shaped snout which dips down, and may be a sign that Makaracetus had a proboscis, alternatively known as a trunk, that may have been similar to a tapirs. This was … Read more
In Depth What had started in genera such as Canobius towards a better adapted open water predator form, Perleidus continued into the Triassic. Like earlier yet fairly recent for the time forms, Perleidus had a lower jaw that was suspended directly below the skull so that the mouth could be opened very wide, allowing for … Read more
In Depth Not much is known about Unwindia except that examination of its skull suggests its placement within the Ctenochasmatoidae perhaps in a basal position. This would make Unwindia a relative to the filter feeding pterosaur Pterodaustro that is also known from the same part of the world. Further Reading Further reading- A new pterodactyloid … Read more
In Depth The name Carcharodontosaurus is derived from the Carcharodon genus of sharks, a group famous for including the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). This name was chosen because the teeth are sharp and serrated in a similar manner to the great white sharks, something that meant they could slice through the flesh of prey … Read more
In Depth Five neck vertebrae may not be much to go on when describing a pterosaur, but the elongated vertebra of Phosphatodraco are a signature feature of the azdarchid group of pterosaurs. The vertebra of Phosphatodraco are also quite unique in themselves by being elongated at the base as well as higher up and also … Read more
In Depth In the on-going evolution of horses Pliohippus represents the next stage after forms like Merychippus. The most noted feature of Pliohippus is that it has even more developed hoof feet supported by the middle toe, with the two side toes being reduced so much that in life they would have been barely visible … Read more
In Depth Eardasaurus is a genus of pliosaur known to have lived around European waters during the Middle Jurassic. The skull of Eardasaurus displays some proportional features that are similar to the famous Liopleurodon, including a diastema where the premaxilla meets the maxilla. However the skull of Eardasaurus suggests that as many as thirty-four to … Read more