In Depth        Clepsydrops is a genus of ophiacodontid synapsid that lived in North America during the Early Permian.†‬Clepsydrops is noted as being similar to the genus Archaeothyris,†‬and like it,†‬is thought to have been a predator of small animals.†‬One former species of Clepsydrops,†‬C.†‬natalis,†‬has now been re-described as a species … Read more
In Depth        Aplestosuchus has been one of the most exciting notosuchian discoveries as the holotype specimen of the genus was found to have had the teeth and partial skull remains of a smaller sphagesaurid crocodyliform within the abdominal cavity.†‬The partial state of preservation of these remains as opposed to the much better state of … Read more
In Depth        Proterogyrinus seems to have been adapted for locomotion on both land and in the water. The tail, being broad and flattened would have provided efficient power in the water, while the limbs are developed for terrestrial movement. In particular, the increased number of toe bones would have given Proterogyrinus greater dexterity on land … Read more
In Depth        Theosodon was probably a lot like a llama in appearance,†‬however it was not actually related to this group of mammals†(‬the Camelidaeâ€) ‬but instead was a litoptern mammal,†‬the dominant group of mammals in South America before it became joined to North America.†‬This is a case of convergent evolution where even … Read more
In Depth        A relatively small and unassuming pliosaur,†‬Peloneustes shows a dental specialisation where the teeth were not as sharp as other presumably piscivorous†(‬fish eatingâ€) ‬marine reptiles.†‬The blunter teeth would have instead been better suited for cracking the shells of cephalopods like belemnites and ammonites so that Peloneustes could easily eat the soft … Read more
In Depth        Compared to some larger Cretaceous crocodiles such as Deinosuchus,†‬Allodaposuchus was actually quite small,†‬but it still would have been a serious danger to the smaller dinosaurs that were running across Europe during the Cretaceous.†‬Given the speed of smaller ornithopod dinosaurs the best chance that Allodaposuchus had of making a kill would … Read more
In Depth        Unfortunately we cannot bring much information on this bear dog. Further Reading Further reading- ďż˝ber tertia?re Spaltenfďż˝llungen im Frďż˝nkischen und Schwďż˝bischen Jura [On Tertiary fissure fillings in the Franconian and Swabian Jura]. – Abhandlungen der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Abteilung, Neue Folge 29:1-86. – R. Dehm – 1935.
In Depth        Tohoraata is a genus of whale that lived in the waters around New Zealand during the Oligocene.†‬A former species of Mauicetus,†‬M.†‬waitakiensis,†‬has now been named as a second species of Tohoraata. Further Reading -†‬A new eomysticetid†(‬Mammalia:†‬Cetaceaâ€) ‬from the Late Oligocene of New Zealand and re-evaluation of†‘‬Mauicetus‒ … Read more
In Depth        Although not a very well-known prehistoric ape,†‬Khoratpithecus has been regarded as being intermediate in form between Sivapithecus and the modern day genus Pongo,†‬better known as the orangutan.†‬For this reason there has been suggestion that Khoratpithecus might actually be the direct ancestor of orangutans.        The species Khoratpithecus chiangmuanensis was established from … Read more
In Depth        Macrocnemus is a genus of extinct archosauromorph that seems to have had a wide distribution during the Triassic given that fossils of the genus are known from central Europe and China.†Further Reading -†‬Macrocnemus nicht Macrochemus.†‬Centralblatt fur Mineralogie.†‬-†‬Geologic und Palaeontologieâ€; ‬Stuttgart.†‬1931†‬Abt B†‬655â€â€“‬656.†‬-†‬F.†‬Nopcsa†‬-†… Read more