In Depth        The†‬body of Gerrothorax is flattened to the extreme and is one of the morphological features that indicate Gerrothorax lived at the bottom of aquatic habitats such as lakes and rivers.†‬The eyes of Gerrothorax are placed on top of the head in an orientation that really would only provide upwards vision.†‬Rather … Read more
In Depth        Teyumbaita is a genus of rhynchosaur that lived in South America during the late Triassic. Further Reading -†‬Cranial anatomy of a new genus of hyperodapedontine rhynchosaur†(‬Diapsida,†‬Archosauromorphaâ€) ‬from the Upper Triassic of southern Brazil.†‬-†‬Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh†‬101:27-52.†‬-†‬F.†‬C.†‬Montefeltro,†… Read more
In Depth        Plesiopleurodon is a genus of polycotylid plesiosaur that is known to have lived in the Western Interior seaway of North America during the early part of the Late Cretaceous.†‬As with others of its kind,†‬Plesiopleurodon would have had a proportionately shorter neck and longer jaws than other plesiosaurs. Further Reading -†‬A … Read more
In Depth        Draconyx is a genus of ornithischian dinosaur that lived†‬in Portugal during the late Jurassic.†‬Although the currently available fossils don’t reveal the whole skeleton,†‬Draconyx still seems to have been similar to Camptosaurus,†‬albeit a little smaller. Further Reading -†‬Draconyx loureiroi,†‬a new camptosauridae†(‬Dinosauria,†‬Ornithopodaâ€) ‬from the Late Jurassic of … Read more
In Depth        Isaberrysaura is a genus of dinosaur that lived in South America during the middle Jurassic.†‬Initially described as a neoornithischian,†‬later analysis has suggested that Isaberrysaura is actually a very primitive stegosaur.†‬Although†‬much detail about Isaberrysaura is still unknown,†‬it is possible that Isaberrysaura may have still been bipedal despite being a … Read more
In Depth        Qianichthyosaurus is an example of a transitional ichthyosaur similar to Mixosaurus that shows a link between the more primitive ichthyosaurs and the more fish-like advanced forms.†‬One clue to this are the limbs†(‬flippersâ€) ‬which have four digits instead of the more common five which are seen in more primitive ichthyosaur forms.†‬However … Read more
In Depth        Although it seems to have lived towards the end of the Jurassic,†‬Suuwassea appears to have been a basal diplodocid sauropod dinosaur that was more primitive in form than other better known sauropods such as Diplodocus and Apatosaurus.†‬This would make Suuwassea a late surviving form.†‬At an estimated length approaching fifteen meters,†… Read more
In Depth        Euclastes is a genus of marine cryptodiran turtle that lived from the late cretaceous to the early Paleocene.†‬Euclastes is noted for having a partial secondary palate,†‬and a mouth suited for crushing the shells of armoured animals such as crustaceans and shelled molluscs.†‬A former species,†‬E.†‬hutchisoni,†‬has now been reassigned … Read more
In Depth        Though commonly stated to be mammal,†‬the evolutionary placement of Yanoconodon†‬amongst mammals is uncertain due to the fact that Yanoconodon shows a development of an inner ear.†‬This is an†‬advanced feature upon what otherwise might be interpreted as a more primitive mammaliaform body. Further Reading -†‬A new eutriconodont mammal and … Read more
In Depth        Because the skull of Westphaliasaurus is so far unknown it is impossible to say for certain what the diet of Westphaliasaurus was.†‬However most of the early Jurassic plesiosaurs were dedicated hunters of fish and possibly also squid,†‬prey animals that would become a staple part of the diets of plesiosaurs throughout the … Read more