In Depth An interesting specimen of an early amphibian as it appears to have completely abandoned terrestrial life in favour of an aquatic lifestyle. Its limbs, especially those at the front, were greatly reduced in size and would have been no use for land locomotion. They would have still served as rudders and may have … Read more
In Depth Not only was Orthacanthus very similar to the smaller Xenacanthus, it also has a similar temporal range in the fossil record. The two sharks probably coexisted with only the minimum of competition between the two. This is because at only one meter long, Xenacanthus could operate in waters that were too small or … Read more
In Depth Yacarerani is a small notouchian crocodilomorph that lived in South America during the early stages of the Late Cretaceous. Yacarerani has a highly specialised dentition with the two most forward incisors in the lower jaw almost pointing directly forwards. The upper fore teeth also protrude forwards and these teeth may have been for … Read more
In Depth Narambuenatitan was a fairly small genus titanosaur that lived in South America during the Late Cretaceous. Narambuenatitan has also been noted as being similar to the genus Epachthosaurus, and the two are included within the Lithostrotia titanosaurs. Further Reading - A new titanosaur sauropod dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of North Patagonia, Argentina. … Read more
In Depth Boreonykus is a genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur that lived in Canada during the late Cretaceous. Further Reading - A high-latitude dromaeosaurid, Boreonykus certekorum, gen. et sp. nov. (Theropoda), from the upper Campanian Wapiti Formation, west-central Alberta. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology e1034359. - P. R. Bell & P. J. Currie - 2015.
In Depth What makes Therizinosaurus and others from its group stand out from other dinosaurs are the huge claws that are on the end of its fingers. In Therizinosaurus these claws reached up to one meter long, and there purpose has three main theories. The first is for display, with the larger claws being indicative … Read more
In Depth Afrodon was a small eutherian mammal that seems to have been spread at least across Western Europe to the Western tip of North Africa. Add into account the broad temporal range of this mammal, and it seems that Afrodon was a very successful little mammal. Further Reading - Afrodon chleuhi nov. gen., nov. … Read more
In Depth Kaijutitan is a genus of titanosaur that lived in South America during the late Cretaceous. The name Kaijutitan is derived from the Japanese word ‘Kaiju’ which means ‘monster’. Further Reading - A new giant basal titanosaur sauropod in the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian) of the Neuqu�n Basin, Argentina. - Cretaceous Research 100:61-81. - L. … Read more
In Depth Albertonectes is one of the best preserved elasmosaurid plesiosaurs to be discovered in Canada, and has a total of 76 cervical (neck) vertebrae . Elasmosaurid pesiosaurs like Albertonectes are noted for having their long necks that are proportionately much longer than earlier plesiosaur types. This would have been a specialist feeding adaptation allowing … Read more
In Depth Described from a single partially preserved skull, Alexandronectes was an elasmosaurid plesiosaur that swam in the waters around what is now New Zealand during the late Cretaceous. These were dangerous waters as fossils of large mosasaurs such as Taniwhasaurus are also known from the same formation as Alexandronectes, and these predators were certainly … Read more