In Depth        Raptorex is a very dubious genus of tyrannosaur that many consider to be a juvenile Tarbosaurus.†‬When Raptorex was first revealed to the world the holotype had already been dug out of the ground and shipped to Japan where it was purchased by an American businessman.†‬Back then the fossil was being identified … Read more
In Depth        Eoraptor stands out not only for being one of the first dinosaurs to ever walk the Earth,†‬but because palaeontologists cannot conclusively agree on where to place it in relation to other dinosaurs.†‬Initially Eoraptor was classed as a theropod because of its bipedal stance and narrow build,†‬but the sauropodomorphs†(‬which would … Read more
In Depth        At first glance Entelognathus resembled a placoderm fish,†‬yet at the†‬time of the initial description in†‬2013,†‬the jaw structure of Entelognathus is the earliest known example of a modern jaw structure in the fossil record.†‬It is still unknown exactly how Entelognathus fits in evolutionary†(‬if at allâ€) ‬to later fish … Read more
In Depth        As a temnospondyl amphibian,†‬Trematosaurus is the type genus of the Trematosauroidea.†‬There used to be several species of Trematosaurus named,†‬though currently only T.†‬brauni and T.†‬galae are recognised.†‬This also means that Trematosaurus is currently only known from Germany and Russia,†‬with the former South African species being re-assigned to … Read more
In Depth        Fossils of Platypelta have for a long time been associated with the genus Euoplocephalus,†‬yet in†‬2018,†‬some of these fossils were given their own distinct genus by Penkalski in†‬2018.†‬Platypelta was a medium sized ankylosaurine dinosaur that lived in†‬North America during the late Cretaceous. Further Reading †‬-†‬Revised systematics … Read more
In Depth        Superficially,†‬Pareiasaurus is very similar to its relative Scutosaurus.†‬The main differences between the two are the way the legs support the body.†‬In Scutosaurus the legs are directly underneath the body,†‬giving it a much taller appearance.†‬The legs of Pareiasaurus however came out from the sides in a more familiar reptilian … Read more
In Depth        Microposaurus is a genus of stereospondyl amphibian that lived during the early Triassic.†‬For a long time Microposaurus fossils were only known from South Africa,†‬but in†‬2012†‬a description of Microposaurus fossils from Australia was published.†‬This also saw the creation of a second Microposaurus species,†‬M.†‬averyi.†‬Fossil remains from Jordan … Read more
In Depth        Comparable in size to a gorilla,†‬Archaeoindris is one of the largest known sloth lemurs.†‬Initially considered to have been†‬a ground dwelling quadruped,†‬further study has now led to the suggestions that Archaeoindris could have still climbed branches†(‬albeit the thicker ones that could support its weightâ€) ‬as it foraged for food.†… Read more
In Depth        Although only named from two leg bones,†‬these are of such size that Heracles was a very large bird in life.†‬Originally thought to belong to an eagle,†‬the bones were later identified as belonging to a parrot.†‬Although incomplete,†‬comparing the bones to other parrot genera and scaling their bones to fit … Read more
In Depth        Latenivenatrix has a somewhat convoluted history of discovery.†‬The holotype specimen of the genus†(‬CMN†‬12340â€) ‬was originally designated as being a Stenonychosaurus by Dale A.†‬Russel in†‬1969.†‬Then in†‬1987†‬it was moved into the Troodon genus,†‬the type genus of the troodontid dinosaurs.†‬It was not until much later in†… Read more