In Depth Tichvinskia was a small procoloniphid reptile that is known to have lived in Russia during the early Triassic. Further Reading - Novye Dannye o Melkikh Kotilosavrakh iz Permi i Triasa SSSR [New Data on Small Cotylosaurs from the Permian and Triassic of the USSR]. - Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 108(3):547-550. - P. K. … Read more
Stethacanthus a.k.a. the ‘Anvil Shark’ and ‘Ironing Board Shark’: Research Database Theropoda · Cretaceous · Unknown Research Note: Stethacanthus a.k.a. the ‘Anvil Shark’ and ‘Ironing Board Shark’ 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 Lund … Read more
Lufengpithecus: Research Database Theropoda · Cretaceous · Unknown Research Note: Lufengpithecus 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 Schwartz Liu Zheng 2003: Lufengpithecus and related taxa Journal of Human Evolution Confirmed A 2003 Fossil Schwartz … Read more
Schizooura: Research Database Euornithes (Aves) · Early Cretaceous (~125 MYA) · Asia — China (Liaoning, Yixian Formation) Research Note: Schizooura was an early euornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of China — part of the diverse bird fauna of the Jehol Biota. As a member of the Euornithes, it provides data on early avian … Read more
In Depth Aegyptonycteris is a genus of bat that lived in Egypt during the Eocene. Though only known form partial remains, Aegyptonycteris seems to have had an omnivorous diet, revealing that as the bats evolved, they were relatively quick to adapt to different ecological niches. Further Reading - A New Family of Large Omnivorous Bats … Read more
In Depth Gobititan is a genus of titanosaurian dinosaur that lived in China during the early Cretaceous. At the time of writing Gobititan is only known from caudal vertebrae and a partial hind limb, though from these it is possible to infer that Gobititan was a primitive titanosaur. This is because Gobititan is known to … Read more
In Depth The annoying thing about Amtocephale is that it is yet another pachycephalosaur genus that is known only from skull material, specifically the thick dome. The exciting thing about Amtocephale however is that at the time of its discovery it represents what might be the oldest known pachycephalosaur genus. Further Reading - A new … Read more
In Depth Deccanodon is a genus of cynodont that lived in India during the Triassic. Further Reading - A new mammal-like reptile (Cynodontia) from Upper Triassic Maleri Formation of Pranhita-Godavari Valley, Andhra Pradesh. - Journal of the Geological Society of India 69:57-60. - T. T. Nath & P. Yadagiri - 2007.
In Depth Phascolonus was a genus of giant wombat that lived in Australia during the Pleistocene period. Fossils of this genus have been found at one of the most well-known areas for Pleistocene animals in Australia, Lake Callabonna. Lake Callabonna is especially well known for the remains of the huge Diprotodon, another large wombat that … Read more
Aragosaurus: Research Database Sauropoda · Cretaceous · Spain Research Note: Aragosaurus was a sauropod from the Cretaceous of Spain — significant for understanding sauropod diversity and biogeography in Europe during the Cretaceous. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact Canudo & Gasca 2011: Aragosaurus and sauropod diversity in the Cretaceous Palaeontology Confirmed … Read more