In Depth Drepanosaurus is the type genus of the Drepanosauridae, a special group of diapsid reptiles that are noted for having prehensile tails. What this means is that the tail could be wrapped around objects for additional grip. In addition to this there was a hook on the end of the tail that provided even … Read more
In Depth Epichirostenotes was originally discovered in 1923 before being described in 1997 as a specimen of Chirostenotes pergracilis by Hans-Dieter Sues. Further study and description in 2011 saw this specimen described as its own genus. The type species E. curriei is in honour of the palaeontologist Philip Currie. Although only known from incomplete material, … Read more
In Depth Linlongopterus is a genus of pterosaurs that lived in China during the early Cretaceous. Further Reading - A new toothed pteranodontoid (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from the Jiufotang Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Aptian) of China and comments on Liaoningopterus gui Wang and Zhou, 2003. - Historical Biology 27(6):782-795. - T. Rodrigues, S. Jiang, X. Cheng, X. … Read more
In Depth Although named in 1999, Mollesaurus got declared as a synonym to Ophthalmosaurus in the following year by a review of the Ophthalmosaurus genus by palaeontologists Michael W. Maisch and Andreas T. Matzke in 2000. This conclusion remained for about ten years until 2010 when a further study by Patrick S. Druckenmiller and Erin … Read more
In Depth Secodontosaurus is a fantastic genus of pelycosaur as not only do individuals have large sails on their backs, but they have skulls that are quite different to the other sphenacodontid pelycosaurs that they are related to. The naming of the Secodonotsaurus genus was actually a long time coming. The first Secodontosaurus fossils were … Read more
In Depth Siamoadapis is a genus of small primate that lived in Thailand during the mid Miocene. Further Reading - First middle Miocene sivaladapid primate from Thailand. - Journal of Human Evolution 54 (3): 434–443. - Y. Chaimanee, C. Yamee, P. Tian, O. Chavasseau & J. -J. Jaeger - 2008.
In Depth Sarcolestes is a genus of ankylosaur that lived in England during the mid-Jurassic. Unfortunately the only part of this dinosaur that is known is a lower jaw bone, so it is difficult to infer much more about this dinosaur. The lack of fossil remains has also cast doubt upon the validity of this … Read more
In Depth Colobodectes is a genus of dicynodont that lived in South Africa during the Permian. Further Reading - A new basal dicynodont from the Upper Permian of South Africa. - Palaeontology 46:211-223. - S. Modesto, B. Rubidge, I. Visser & J. Welman - 2003. - The Permian Dicynodont Colobodectes cluveri (Therapsida, Anomodontia), with Notes … Read more
In Depth Though only named for a partial jaw, Labidiosuchus is still quite interesting as reconstructions of the lower jaw have indicated that it would have had a Y-shaped profile, hence the name Labidiosuchus which translates as ‘forceps crocodile’. Further Reading - A new cretaceous notosuchian (Mesoeucrocodylia) with bizarre dentition from Brazil. - Zoological Journal … Read more
In Depth Eucoelophysis was initially named upon the basis of a proposed similarity to coelophysid dinosaurs like Coelophysis, hence the name Eucoelophysis which means ‘true hollow form’. However a later study by Nesbitt, Irmis and Parker revealed that Eucoelophysis is not a true dinosaur like Coelophysis, but rather a more primitive dinosauriform similar to Silesaurus. … Read more