In Depth        Laosuchus is a genus of reptilomorph that lived in Asia about the time of the Permian/Triassic boundary.†‬Many†‬minute canals have been found running within areas of the skull,†‬and in life these may have been housing for receptors to allow Laosuchus to detect other animals either by heat or electrical impulses from … Read more
In Depth        Eocaiman is so named due to the similarity to the modern day Caiman of South America,†‬though Eocaiman appears much earlier in the fossil record,†‬with the earliest examples going all,†‬the way back to the first stage of the Paleocene.†‬Henceforth,†‬Eocaiman is expected to†‬have been quite similar to its modern … Read more
In Depth        Although only a little dinosaur,†‬the taxonomic history of Coelurus can be confusing to say the least.†‬The first small theropod dinosaur from†‬the famous Morrison Formation to be named,†‬in the past the genus Coelurus has crossed paths with other small Morrison formation theropods such as Ornitholestes and Tanycolagreus.†‬In addition to … Read more
In Depth        Tastavinsaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in Spain during the early Cretaceous. Further Reading -†‬A new sauropod:†‬Tastavinsaurus sanzi gen.†‬et sp.†‬nov.†‬from the Early Cretaceous†(‬Aptianâ€) ‬of Spain.†‬-†‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology†‬28†(‬3â€)‬:†‬712â€â€“‬731.-†‬J.†‬I.†‬Canudo,†‬R.†‬Royo-Torres,†& ‬G.†‬Cuenca-Bescďż˝s†‬-†‬2008.
In Depth        Serradraco is a genus of pterosaur that lived during the early Cretaceous. Further Reading -†‬A new pterosaur specimen from the Upper Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation†(‬Cretaceous,†‬Valanginianâ€) ‬of southern England and a review of Lonchodectes sagittirostris†(‬Owen†‬1874â€)‬.†‬-†‬Geological Society,†‬London,†‬Special Publications:†‬SP455.5.†‬-†‬S.†‬Rigal,†‬D.†‬M.†‬Martill†& … Read more
In Depth        Cricosaurus is a genus of thalattosuchian†(‬sea crocodileâ€) ‬known to have lived in the seas around Europe and the Eastern coasts of the Americas.†‬Cricosaurus seems to have been among the smaller thalattosuchians,†‬and one with narrower more gracile jaws.†‬This would denote a specialisation in hunting smaller prey animals such as fish … Read more
In Depth        Machairasaurus is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in China during the late Cretaceous.†‬Machairasaurus was so named from the claws on its fingers which are curved like scimitar swords.†‬It is speculated that these claws may have allowed Machairasaurus to pull and manipulate plant branches or possibly even dig out roots.†… Read more
In Depth        Europatitan was a very large somphospondylan sauropod dinosaur that lived in Spain during the early Cretaceous.†‬The type species name E.†‬eastwoodi was inspired by the actor Clint Eastwood. Further Reading -†‬Europatitan eastwoodi,†‬a new sauropod from the lower Cretaceous of Iberia in the initial radiation of somphospondylans in Laurasia.†‬-†‬PeerJ†… Read more
In Depth        Although named from only relatively few bones,†‬the fossil remains of Vectidraco are still enough to clearly identify†‬it†‬as a new distinct genus from other known†‬pterosaur†‬genera.†‬The fossils of Vectidraco also show that in life the bones were pneumatised,†‬a weight saving adaptation which meant that the bones of the … Read more
In Depth        Acuetzpalin is a genus of ichthyosaur that lived in waters around what is now central America during the late Jurassic. Further Reading -†‬Acuetzpalin carranzai gen et sp.†‬nov.†‬A new ophthalmosauridae†(‬Ichthyosauriaâ€) ‬from the Upper Jurassic of Durango,†‬North Mexico.†‬-†‬Journal of South American Earth Sciences.†‬-†‬J.†‬I.†‬Barrientos-Lara,†‬J.†… Read more