In Depth        The discovery of Fruitafossor made many palaeontologists sit up and pay attention,†‬because here was a digging mammal that existed one hundred million years before the previously known Cenozoic ancestors of today’s mammalian diggers.†‬Although it appears that Fruitafossor was not related to any of today’s existing mammals,†‬it employed its powerful forearms,†… Read more
In Depth        Ictidorhinus is a genus of biarmosuchian therapsid that lived in South Africa during the late Permian.†‬At the time of writing the genus is still only known by a single partial skull,†‬that shows some juvenile characteristics such as a large orbit. Further Reading -†‬On a nearly perfect skull of a new … Read more
In Depth        The problem with Bagaraatan is that it is only known from partial remains that in themselves could be placed within a variety of different theropod groups. Leading palaeontologists have described Bagaraatan as a tyrannosaur, troodontid and even a maniraptorian, all of the main carnivorous theropod classes that were active in Asia towards the … Read more
In Depth        The genus name of Gallardosaurus is in honour of Juan Gallardo,†‬the farmer who first discovered the remains in†‬1946.†‬Despite the remains being discovered at this time,†‬they were left unprepared for proper study,†‬even in†‬1996†‬when Gallardosaurus was thought to possibly represent another specimen of Pliosaurus.†‬When the remains were … Read more
In Depth        Not much is known about Baalsaurus other than it is a genus of titanosaurian dinosaur that lived in South America during the late Cretaceous.†‬Baalsaurus is named after the†‬Baal fossil site,†‬which is named after the ancient†‬Phoenician god Baal.†Further Reading -†‬Baalsaurus mansillai gen.†‬et sp.†‬nov.†‬a new titanosaurian … Read more
In Depth        Gilmoremys is a species of turtle that lived in North America during the late Cretaceous. Further Reading -†‬Description of two new species of turtles,†‬from the Lance Formation of Wyoming.†‬Proceedings of the United States National Museum†‬50â€(‬2137â€)‬:614-646.†‬-†‬C.†‬W.†‬Gilmore†‬-†‬1916. -†‬New material of Gilmoremys lancensis nov.†‬comb.†… Read more
In Depth        There is some confusion regarding Geosaurus reconstructions as there were once both long and short snouted forms of the genus.†‬One former species of Geosaurus in particular known as G.†‬suevicus was an almost complete specimen which was commonly used as a base for the majority of early Geosaurus reconstructions.†‬Later analysis in†… Read more
In Depth        With holotype fossils initially described as†‬specimens of Rubeosaurus,†‬Stellasaurus is a genus of centrosaurine ceratopsian dinosaur that lived in North America during the late Cretaceous.†‬Although little fossil material exists of Stellasaurus at the time of writing,†‬the dinosaur has been reconstructing as having two large upwards pointing spikes rising from the … Read more
In Depth        Along with Magyarosaurus,†‬Ampelosaurus is currently one of the best known sauropods from Europe and is in fact another example of a Late Cretaceous era titanosaur.†‬Remains of Ampelosaurus have been found in what would have been a floodplain in the late Cretaceous.†‬However when the fossils were discovered they were now near … Read more
In Depth        Though only known from fragmentary remains,†‬Graciliraptor has been a key find for our understanding of dromaeosaurid dinosaurs as it represents one of the earliest known appearances of such a creature.†‬At the time of its description in†‬2004,†‬Graciliraptor was considered to be a close relative of the famous Microraptor,†‬and like … Read more