In Depth Nedcolbertia is a genus of theropod dinosaur known to have lived in the Western portion of the United States during the early Cretaceous. Nedcolbertia is known from the partial remains of at least three individuals, though much of these remains were damaged by erosion before their discovery. Still, enough is known about Nedcolbertia … Read more
In Depth Teleidosaurus is a genus of primitive form thalatosuchian marine crocodile. Originally named as a species of Teleosaurus, Teleidosaurus was established as a distinct genus in 1869, and was considered to possibly be one of the oldest marine crocodiles until 2015 when the genus Zoneait was named. As a metriorhynchoid, Teleidosaurus would have been … Read more
In Depth Whereas most modern mustelids are relatively small predators that hunt small animals, Megalictis was the prehistoric giant that was comparable to modern dogs and big cats. However exactly how big remains a matter of debate amongst researchers with some saying that Megalictis was relatively light weight at around twenty kilograms, with others suggesting … Read more
In Depth Ursus spelaeus, better known as the cave bear is by far one of the most common Pleistocene mammals in the fossil record, thanks mainly due to its behaviour of frequenting caves. In fact the fossils of Ursus spelaeus are so numerous that in World War I the German army used them as a … Read more
In Depth A European relative of Doswellia, Jaxtasuchus were doswellian archosaurs that may have been semi aquatic in the behaviour. This is indicated by the observation that the remains of aquatic invertebrates and temnospondyl amphibians were found alongside the holotype remains of Jaxtasuchus which were preserved in mudstone. Isolated teeth and a relation to other … Read more
In Depth Desmatosuchus is one of the better known aetosaurs that were squat quadrupedal archosaurs that fed upon low growing vegetation. This diet is suggested by the presence of peg like teeth that were best suited for stripping off fronds of fern-like vegetation. Not only is Desmatosuchus one of the better known of its group … Read more
In Depth Bromsgroveia is a genus of poposaurid rauisuchian that lived in England during the early Triassic. Bromsgroveia was named after the Bromsgrove Sandstone Formation where the holotype fossils were discovered. Further Reading - The poposaurid thecodontian Teratosaurus suevicus v. Meyer, plus referred specimens mostly based on prosauropod dinosaurs, from the Middle Stubensandstein (Upper Triassic) … Read more
In Depth Eurazhdarcho was named because of its location and its close relationship to the type genus of the azhdarchidae, Azdarcho. Unfortunately not much of Eurazhdarcho is known, and what has been preserved is in a very poor state of preservation. We don’t know yet exactly how big Eurazhdarcho was because there simply isn’t enough … Read more
In Depth Dilambdogale is a shrew-like mammal that lived in Egypt during the early Eocene. Further Reading - The oldest and youngest records of Afrosoricida (Placentalia, Afrotheria) from the Fayum Depression of northern Egypt. - Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 55 (4): 599–616. - Erik R. Seiffert - 2010.
In Depth Suminia is an interesting little genus of anomodont therapsid that lived in Russia during the Permian. Though the mouth was full of sharp and proportionately large teeth, wear patterns upon the teeth themselves indicate that they were being repeatedly used to process plant material, meaning that Suminia was herbivorous. The holotype specimen of … Read more