In Depth Solenodonsaurus is named after having teeth that are the same type, sharp and slightly curved, suitable for catching insects. The ear structure is simple and probably could only pick up lower pitch sounds. While it has been placed in Reptilomorpha under labyrinthodonts, it does not have the characteristic labyrinthodont teeth. The spine however … Read more
In Depth Pristichampsus is a crocodile that bears all of the hallmarks of a terrestrial lifestyle rather than an aquatic one like todays crocodiles. The key clues to this lifestyle can be seen in the legs which are longer than those of semi-aquatic crocodiles to allow for more terrestrial locomotion. Additionally the ends of the … Read more
In Depth Nicrosaurus is another one of the phytosaurs, reptiles that have a striking similarity to modern crocodiles, although the position of the nostrils higher up the snout and in front of the eyes is a dead giveaway that Nicrosaurus is a phytosaur (crocodiles have their nostrils on the tips of their snouts). Nicrosaurus is … Read more
In Depth Xiangornis is a genus of enantiornithine bird from the early Cretaeous of China. The enantiornithine birds are considered separate from the ornithomorph birds, yet Xiangornis shows features that are common to both groups. Though this could simply be a case of convergent evolution with similar features being adapted by both groups, it has … Read more
In Depth Remains of Sinobaatar have been found inside the compsognathid dinosaur Sinosauropteryx proving that mammals like Sinobaatar along with others like Zhangheotherium were preyed upon by these kinds of dinosaur. Further Reading Further reading- Sinobaatar gen. nov.: first multituberculate mammal from the Jehol Biota of Liaoning, northeast China. – Chinese Science Bulletin 47(11):933-938. – … Read more
In Depth Apachesaurus was a member of the Metoposauridae group of temnospondyl amphibians, though one that was particularly small. The larger close relatives of Apachesaurus include Metoposaurus and Koskinonodon which could grow up to two and a half to three meters long. Apachesaurus however grew only to around just over forty centimetres long. Due to … Read more
In Depth A little known creodont genus, Apterodon fossil locations so far suggest that the genus roamed across Europe and North Africa from the late Eocene to early Oligocene periods. Although a creodont and a predator, Apterodon lacks the carnassial (blade-like meat shearing) teeth that are seen in other creodonts. This may indicate a different … Read more
In Depth The fragmentary nature of Shaochilong resulted in it being included into the Chilantaisaurus genus, a theropod dinosaur also from the Ulansuhai Formation. However while fragmentary, the fossil remains for C. maortuensis were much larger that the estimated length of two and a half meters for other Chilantaisaurus material. Questions were first raised about … Read more
In Depth Thalassomedon is regarded as a mid-sized elasmosaurid plesiosaur, especially when compared with larger genera like Mauisaurus. The distribution of Thalassomedon remains show that it swam in the Western Interior Seaway, a Cretaceous sea that divided North America into two halves. Thalassomedon is so far only known from the early stages of the Late … Read more
In Depth Astrohippus is one of many of the horse genera that were roaming around North America during the Miocene period, but it is one of the few to be considered a close relative of the Equus genus which is where modern horses belong, though the tooth structure of Astrohippus strongly suggests that Astrohippus is … Read more