Yongjinglong

In Depth        Perhaps the most unusual feature of Yongjinglong is the scapula,‭ ‬the part that is equivalent to your own shoulder blade.‭ ‬Although the holotype individual has been estimated to have been about fifteen to eighteen meters long,‭ ‬the shoulder blade was unusually large in proportion at two meters long in itself.‭ ‬In addition to … Read more

Duerosuchus

In Depth        Duerosuchus is a genus of relatively small crocodile that lived in Spain during the Eocene. Further Reading -‭ ‬Nuevo g�nero de Crocodylia del Eoceno medio de la Pen�nsula Ib�rica‭ (‬Zamora,‭ ‬Espa�a‭)‬:‭ ‬Duerosuchus piscator nov.‭ ‬gen.,‭ ‬nov.‭ ‬sp.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Studia Geologica Salmanticensia‭ ‬45‭ (‬2‭)‬:‭ ‬149‭–‬173.‭ ‬-‭ ‬L.‭ ‬A.‭ ‬Santiago‭ & ‬L.‭ ‬A.‭ ‬Andr�s‭ ‬-‭ … Read more

Chindesaurus

In Depth        The holotype remains of Chindesaurus were first discovered in‭ ‬1985‭ ‬and at first thought to represent a kind of unknown sauropodomorph dinosaur.‭ ‬It was later however that it was realised that Chindesaurus actually represented a kind of primitive theropod dinosaur.‭ ‬Exactly what kind of early theropod dinosaur has been a little bit harder … Read more

Cistecephalus

In Depth        Cistecephalus could be dubbed the mole of the Permian.‭ ‬The small body was very stout with short limbs which sprawled out to the sides,‭ ‬not great for speed but very good at gripping the sides of a tunnel for traction.‭ ‬The forelimbs in particular show support for very powerful muscles,‭ ‬and were probably … Read more

Klamelisaurus

In Depth        Klamelisaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in what is now China during the Mid Jurassic.‭ ‬Klamelisaurus has been noted as being very similar in form to an earlier named genus named Bellusaurus,‭ ‬though in addition to this,‭ ‬some have gone further to say that Klamelisaurus might actually be the adult … Read more

Leptonectes

In Depth        Leptonectes is the type genus of Leptopterygiidae group of ichthyosaurs that had specialised upper jaws that protruded beyond the end of the lower jaw.‭ ‬This group of ichthyosaurs are sometimes envisioned using these snouts to stir up sediment on the sea floor‭ ‬to find buried prey,‭ ‬however because their jaws resemble those of … Read more

Muraenosaurus

In Depth        Muraenosaurus was a Jurassic era plesiosaur similar to the much more famous Plesiosaurus,‭ ‬although Muraenosaurus actually seems to have had a proportionately longer neck.‭ ‬This is likely an adaptation that would have helped it to catch fish.‭ ‬It’s probable however that Muraenosaurus itself was targeted by large Jurassic era pliosaurs such as Liopleurodon,‭ … Read more

Fruitadens

In Depth        With a weight estimate of 0.5-0.75 kilos, Fruitadens is by far one of the smallest known dinosaurs. Recovered specimens are thought to represent juveniles and sub adults that are almost fully grown. In appearance Fruitadens is considered to have been similar to Heterodontosaurus, although it may have been closer to Echinodon and Tianyulong … Read more

Rhinesuchus

rhinesuchus

In Depth        While not the last of the large carnivorous amphibians,‭ ‬Rhinesuchus existed at a time when the majority of the other species became extinct during the Permian-triassic extinction event.‭ ‬After this time the reptiles would become the dominant life forms until the KT extinction.        The skull on Rhinesuchus had a flat triangular shape with … Read more

Kourisodon

In Depth        Kourisodon was first described from fossil remains discovered in British Columbia,‭ ‬though since this time more partial remains from Japan have been attributed to the genus.‭ ‬Not only does this significantly expand upon the known geographical range of Kourisodon,‭ ‬but it indicates that Kourisodon existed from the Santonian of the Canadian deposits,‭ ‬all … Read more