In Depth Kataigidodon is a genus of cynodont that lived in North America during the Triassic. Further reading - A new non-mammalian eucynodont from the Chinle Formation (Triassic: Norian), and implications for the early Mesozoic equatorial cynodont record. - Biological Letters. - B. T. Kligman, A. D. Marsh, H. D. Sues & C. A. Sidor … Read more
In Depth Maaradactylus is a genus of anhangeurid pterosaur that lived in Brazil during the early Cretaceous. Maaradactylus is known to have had thirty-five pairs of teeth in the upper jaw as well as a crest rising up from the front of the upper jaw. Being a member of the Anhangueridae, Maaradactylus would have been … Read more
In Depth When Ornithopsis was named by Harry Govier Seeley in 1870, Seeley noted the pneumaticised vertebrae and considered Ornithopsis to represent a link between pterosaurs and birds. Richard Owen however said that he was wrong, the vertebra actually represented a kind of large marine reptile, though one that probably had a well-developed respiratory system. … Read more
In Depth Herpetoskylax was a biarmosuchian (relative to the better known Biarmosuchus) therapsid that lived in South Africa towards the end of the Mid Permian period. So far the genus is only known from skulls and lower jaws, but as a biarmosuchian, Herpetoskylax would have been a predator. Further Reading - Herpetoskylax hopsoni, a new … Read more
In Depth Dzharatitanis is a genus of rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur that lived in Asia during the late Cretaceous. Although initially described from a single tail vertebra, this fossil has revealed that Dzharatitanis was a rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur, making it the first rebbachisaurid genus to be discovered in Asia. Further Reading - First rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur … Read more
In Depth Cynodictis was an early member of the Amphicyonidae, a group of mammalian predators that are much better known as ‘bear dogs’. This is not all that surprising however when you consider that Cynodictis was also one of the earliest amphicyonids and usually the earlier members of a group are smaller than the later … Read more
In Depth Originally described as a species of Miacis, M. winkleri, the species was split from Miacis and re-established as a distinct genus called Gracilocyon in 2010. Another former Miacis species, M. rosei has also been attributed Gracilocyon. Gracilocyon would have still been similar to Miacis in form and size, and would have hunted other … Read more
In Depth Further Reading - Acinonyx pardinensis (Carnivora, Felidae) from the Early Pleistocene of Pantalla (Italy): predatory behavior and ecological role of the giant Plio-Pleistocene cheetah. - Quarternary Science Reviews 87 82-97 - Marco Cherin, Dawid Adam Iurino, Raffaele Sardella & Lorenzo Rool - 2014.
In Depth While Animantarx may not be the best known nodosaurid dinosaur, it is a contender for having one of the coolest dinosaur names. Unfortunately Animantarx is only known by an incomplete skull, lower jaw and some vertebrae, which means that reconstructions are reliant upon other nodosaur parts and a best guess by the reconstructions. … Read more
In Depth The genus Pterodactylus was the first ever pterosaur named, however it suffered from the wastebasket taxon effect for the first fifty to hundred years of its history, and since this time many former species have been re-identified as being similar yet very distinct genera. Aerodactylus is yet another example of this, being originally … Read more