Alwalkeria

In Depth        Alwalkeria was originally named in‭ ‬1986‭ ‬as Walkeria,‭ ‬however the genus name Walkeria was later found to be as preoccupied as it had already been used to name a bryozoan‭ (‬a kind of tiny aquatic invertebrate‭)‬.‭ ‬This necessited a revision to the name since naming priority is always given to the first creature … Read more

Pasquiaornis

In Depth        Pasquiaornis is a genus of flightless sea bird that lived Canadian waters during the early portions of the late Cretaceous.‭ ‬Pasquiaornis is regarded as being similar to the much better known Hesperornis,‭ ‬though Pasquiaornis is understood to be more primitive in form. Further Reading -‭ ‬Early Late Cretaceous birds from Saskatchewan,‭ ‬Canada:‭ ‬the … Read more

Sanxiasaurus

In Depth        Sanxiasaurus is a genus of small ornithischian dinosaur that lived in China during the mid Jurassic. Further Reading -‭ ‬A neornithischian dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic Xintiangou Formation of Yunyang,‭ ‬Chongqing,‭ ‬China:‭ ‬the earliest record in Asia.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Historical Biology:‭ ‬1‭–‬14.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Ning Li,‭ ‬Hui Dai,‭ ‬Chao Tan,‭ ‬Xufeng Hu,‭ ‬Zhaoying Wei,‭ ‬Yu … Read more

Pycnodus

In Depth        Pycnodus have deep bodies with greatly reduced pectoral and pelvic fins,‭ ‬altogether suggesting a slow swimming lifestyle.‭ ‬The name Pycnodus is derived from the batteries of grinding teeth within the mouth which would have been very efficient at processing shelled molluscs,‭ ‬small crustaceans and echinoderms‭ (‬urchins and starfish‭)‬.‭ ‬The broad temporal and geographic … Read more

Ferrisaurus

In Depth        Ferrisaurus is a genus of leptoceratopsian dinosaur that lived in Canada towards the end of the Cretaceous period. Further Reading -‭ ‬A new leptoceratopsid dinosaur from Maastrichtian-aged deposits of the Sustut Basin,‭ ‬northern British Columbia,‭ ‬Canada.‭ ‬-‭ ‬PeerJ.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Victoria Arbour‭ & ‬David Evans‭ ‬-‭ ‬2019.

Albalophosaurus

In Depth        Albalophosaurus has been described as a basal ceratopsian dinosaur,‭ ‬but one that shows similarities to other ornithopod dinosaurs,‭ ‬particularly in dental morphology.‭ ‬This may suggest that Albalophosaurus was a particularly primitive ceratopsian dinosaur,‭ ‬perhaps even one that hints at the transition from ornithopod ancestors to more derived ceratopsian descendants.‭ ‬The name Albalophosaurus means‭ … Read more

Alaskacephale

In Depth        The first pachycepahlosaurid dinosaur known from Alaska,‭ ‬Alaskacephale is also one of the few dinosaurs known to have lived in the area that would become that state.‭ ‬Unfortunately not a lot is known about this dinosaur because of a current sever lack of remains,‭ ‬but the original describers believe that Alaskacephale may have … Read more

Oudenodon

In Depth        Oudenodon is a genus of dincynodont therapsid from the late Permian that seems to have been quite generalised in its overall development. Further Reading -‭ ‬On some reptilian fossils from South Africa.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London‭ ‬16‭(‬1‭)‬:49-62.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Richard Owen‭ ‬-‭ ‬1859. -‭ ‬An Interactive Approach to Distinguishing … Read more

Decuriasuchus

In Depth        Named in‭ ‬2011,‭ ‬Decuriasuchus seems to have been like many predatory archosaurs in appearance,‭ ‬moderate in size,‭ ‬and capable of taking down similar sized animals.‭ ‬What has made palaeontologists sit up take notice however is that when Decuriasuchus was first found they didn’t find just one,‭ ‬but nine individuals buried together,‭ ‬with a … Read more

Corythoraptor

In Depth        Corythoraptor is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in China during the late Cretaceous.‭ ‬Corythoraptor has been described as having a head crest similar to that of a modern day cassowary.‭ ‬The beak of Corythoraptor was also more pointed towards the end,‭ ‬suggesting feeding specialisation.‭ ‬Corythoraptor is one of many oviraptorid dinosaurs … Read more