In Depth Paraphysornis was one of the more robust members of the phorusrhacid ‘terror birds’ and was most closely related to Physornis and Brontornis. Because of its large size and heavier build, Paraphysornis probably relied more upon ambush tactics to surprise prey rather than running it down over extended distances. Although this does not mean … Read more
In Depth Dubbed a ‘sabre-toothed anomodont’, Tiarajudens was a quadrupedal herbivore that possessed a pair of enlarged sabre-like canine teeth. Despite the presence of these teeth, Tiarajudens was almost certainly a herbivore since the incisors at the front of the mouth are spoon shaped and arranged for slicing plants while the rear teeth could mash … Read more
In Depth Euhelopus was originally named Helopus until it was discovered that the name had already been used for a bird. The name was altered to Euhelopus by Alfred Romer in 1956. Euhelopus was similar to the macronarian sauropods in that the fore legs were proportionately longer than the rear legs, something that would have … Read more
In Depth When Galesaurus was first named by the famous naturalist Richard Owen. He thought that he was naming a new genus of dinosaur, and later when Galesaurus was described in the very first issue of the journal Nature, T. H. Huxley also stated that Galesaurus was a small dinosaur. However, in modern times we … Read more
In Depth Cardiocorax is a genus of elasmosaurid plesiosaur that lived during the latest stage of the Cretaceous. The fenestra (opening) between the coracoid bones is heart-shaped, and is the inspiration for the name which means ‘heart coracoid’. Further Reading - A new elasmosaurid from the early Maastrichtian of Angola and the implications of girdle … Read more
In Depth Nyasasaurus made headlines all around the world when it was discovered, because this genus might just represent the oldest dinosaur so far discovered. Nyasasaurus has the right number of sacral vertebrae expected, and the humerus does display rapid growth patterns just like those known from other dinosaur genera. Unfortunately, the overall incompleteness of … Read more
In Depth The holotype specimen of Spinops was first discovered in 1916 by Charles H. and Levi Sternberg. However when the material was sent to the London Natural History Museum (the institution that financed the dig) the keeper of Geology, one Arthur Smith Woodward (today best remembered for declaring the ‘Piltdown Man’ as a genuine … Read more
In Depth Platyosphys is a genus of basilosaurid whale known to have ranged across the Atlantic Ocean and throughout European and north African waters. Further Reading - A Review of the Archaeoceti. - Carnegie Institution of Washington 482:1-366 - R. Kellogg - 1936. - New fauna of archaeocete whales (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Bartonian middle … Read more
In Depth As far as individuals go, Silesaurus is one of the most commonly found dinosauriforms in Europe and at the moment anywhere else for that matter. Silesaurus is not thought to be a true dinosaur, but it was a member of the group of archosaurs that were ancestral to them. Silesaurus was a fairly … Read more
In Depth A significantly larger relative to the more famous Euparkeria, Vjushkovia was a mid-sized Triassic aged archosauromorph that hunted in ecosystems in what is now Russia. One former species of Vjushkovia named V. sinensia has now been renamed as Youngosuchus. Further Reading - Ein grosser Pseudosuchier aus der Orenburger Trias [A large pseudosuchian … Read more