In Depth Palaeoherpeton was originally named as Palaeogyrinus in 1926, but was renamed as Palaeoherpeton in 1970. Palaeoherpeton was a medium sized predator that would have hunted in the Carboniferous coal swamps of Scotland. Further Reading - Croonian lecture.—The evolution and origin of the Amphibia. - Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B … Read more
In Depth Hydrotherosaurus is comfortably placed within the Elasmosauridae, a group of plesiosaurs noted for having proportionately long necks. Also like these other genera, Hydrotherosaurus had long pointed teeth, but these seem to have projected more to the sides rather than just up and down. This however is quite a common feature seen in piscivorous … Read more
In Depth Beishanodon is a genus of cynodont therapsid that lived in China during the Triassic. Further Reading - A new nonmammalian eucynodont (Synapsida: Therapsida) from the Triassic of northern Gansu Province, China, and its biostratigraphic and biogeographic implications. - American Museum Novitates 3685:1-25. - K.-Q. Gao, R. C. Fox, C.-F. Zhou & D.-Q. Li … Read more
In Depth Liaochelys is a genus of cryptodiran turtle that lived in China during the early Cretaceous. Further Reading - A new eucryptodiran turtle from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of western Liaoning, China. - Zootaxa 2676:45-56. - C. -F. Zhou - 2010.
In Depth Gorgonops is the type genus of the Gorgonopsia, though paradoxically it is not the best represented by fossil remains. Gorgonops was a therapsid, a kind of creature more derived than a therapsid, yet still much more primitive than mammals which would eventually evolve from them. Because of the mammal lineage there has been … Read more
In Depth The holotype tooth of this genus was originally described by the German palaeontologist Werner Janensch in 1920 as belonging to the genus Labrosaurus. The first reassignment came about when Labrosaurus was declared to be a synonym of Allosaurus, but the teeth in question were not seen to be similar to those known for … Read more
In Depth Further Reading - A new sauropod dinosaur of Cretaceous from Jingshan, Zhejiang province. - Vertebrata PalAsiatica 39(4):272-281. - F. Tang, X.-M. Kang, Z.-S. Jin, F. Wei & W.-T. Wu - 2001.
In Depth Sveltonectes is a member of the Platypterygiinae ichthyosaurs due to is resemblance to others of this group such as Platyptergius. This group is nested within the Ophthalmosauridae which is typified by the genus Ophthalmosaurus. Sveltonectes stands out from its relatives for its even more streamlined, lightweight build, as well as possessing differently formed … Read more
In Depth Yizhousaurus is a genus of sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived in Asia during the early Jurassic, and is a rare example of such a dinosaur where the skull is known, and in an almost perfect state. Further Reading - A new sauropodiform dinosaur with a ‘sauropodan’ skull from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of … Read more
In Depth Gagadon is a genus of artiodactylan mammal that lived in North America during the Eocene. Gagadon is named after the pop singer Lady Gaga. Also in 2014 another mammal genus was named after a famous singer, this time Mick Jagger, and the animal genus in question being Jaggermeryx. Further Reading - A new … Read more