Adriosaurus: Research Database Theropoda · Cretaceous · Unknown Research Note: Adriosaurus was a theropoda from the Cretaceous of Unknown, providing important data on prehistoric life and ecosystem dynamics. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact LEE CALDWELL 2000: Adriosaurus and related taxa Journal of Paleontology Confirmed A 2000 Fossil
In Depth Pangerpeton is a species of small short bodied salamander that lived in China during the late Jurassic. Further Reading - A new short-bodied salamander from the Upper Jurassic/Lower Cretaceous of China. - Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 51(1):127-130. - Y. Wang & S. E. Evans - 2006.
In Depth Apsaravis is a genus of bird that lived in Mongolia during the late Cretaceous. Apsaravis is noted for having a mix of both primitive and advanced features. Further Reading - Fossil that fills a critical gap in avian evolution. - Nature Vol. 409 11 January 2001 pp.181-184. - Mark A. Norell & Julia … Read more
In Depth Not a lot of information is available about this snake, but aside from dinosaurs, it would have shared its habitat with other reptiles such as lizards like Obamadon, Leptochamops and Palaeosaniwa. Further Reading - Mass extinction of lizards and snakes at the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary, Nicholas R. Longrich, Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar & Jacques A. … Read more
In Depth Ambopteryx is a genus of scansoriopterygid dinosaur that lived in Asia during the late Jurassic. The name Ambopteryx means ‘both wing’ and this is a reference to the observations that fossil impressions with the holotype skeleton show that Ambopteryx was feathered, but then had bat-like membranous wings which were not feathered as well. … Read more
Dacentrurus: Research Database Stegosauria (Ornithischia) · Late Jurassic (~155–150 MYA) · Europe — England (Kimmeridge Clay Formation) Research Note: Dacentrurus was a stegosaur from the Late Jurassic of England. As one of the earliest known stegosaurs, it provides important data on stegosaur evolution and diversity in the Jurassic of Europe. Research Finding Status … Read more
In Depth Chubutisaurus seems to have been a large but primitive titanosaur that lived in Chubut Province towards the end of the early Cretaceous, hence the name which means ‘Chubut lizard’. Although known from different members of the Cerro barcino Formation, possible predatory threats to Chubutisaurus might have included large theropod dinosaurs such as Genyodectes … Read more
In Depth When first described in 1833, Gnathosaurus was actually thought to have been the remains of small prehistoric crocodile. This persisted until the discovery of the skull in 1951, which revealed Gnathosaurus to actually be a filter feeding pterosaur similar to Ctenochasma. The teeth of Gnathosaurus were very fine and projected outwards from the … Read more
Mixosaurus: Research Database Reptilia (Ichthyosauria) · Middle-Late Triassic (~240-210 MYA) · Asia — China Research Note: Mixosaurus was a marine reptile from the Triassic of China — an important taxon for understanding the early evolution of marine reptiles during the Triassic period. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact Renesto & Dal … Read more
Pachycephalosaurus: Research Database Pachycephalosauridae (Ornithischia) · Late Cretaceous (~70–66 MYA) · North America — USA, Montana; Canada, Alberta (Hell Creek Formation) Research Note: Pachycephalosaurus is the iconic dome-headed dinosaur from the latest Cretaceous of western North America. Its massive, bony dome — a thickened skull roof — has been the subject of intense debate … Read more