In Depth        Njalila is a genus of gorgonopsid therapsid that lived in Africa during the mid Triassic.†‬Njalila is not known by many fossils,†‬but we can observe that the genus had relatively short jaws but also narrow skull proportions.†‬It is quite probable that Njalila was a niche predator,†‬perhaps mostly hunting smaller animals. … Read more
Coloborhynchus: Research Database Anhangueridae (Pterosauria) · Early Cretaceous (~140–120 MYA) · Europe — England (Wealden Group), Brazil Research Note: Coloborhynchus was an anhanguerid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous of England and Brazil. As a large-bodied pterosaur with distinctive grouped teeth adapted for catching fish, it provides important data on the diversity and paleobiogeography of … Read more
Ankylosaurus: Research Database Theropoda · Cretaceous · Unknown Research Note: Ankylosaurus 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 Carpenter 2004: Ankylosaurus and related taxa Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Confirmed A 2004 Fossil Carpenter, Canadian … Read more
In Depth        Lobalopex is a genus of burnetiamorph biarmosuchian therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian.†‬As a burnetiamorph,†‬Lobalopex would have been more closely related to genera such as Lophorhinus and Pachydectes than to Biarmosuchus. Further Reading -†‬A New Burnetiamorph Therapsid from the Teekloof Formation,†‬Permian of South Africa.†‬-†‬Journal … Read more
In Depth        Palemydops is a genus of anomodont therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian. Further Reading -†‬On some new genera and species of anomodont reptiles from the Karroo beds of South Africa.†‬-†‬Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London†‬647-674.†‬-†‬Robert Broom†‬-†‬1921.
In Depth        Arganaceras was a pareiasaur that lived in Morocco during the late Permian.†‬Like relative genera,†‬Arganaceras would have been quadrupedal herbivores.†‬A particularly close relative of the genus may have been Elginia. Further Reading -†‬Les pareiasaures†(‬Amniota,†‬Parareptiliaâ€) ‬du Permien supďż˝rieur du Bassin d’Argana,†‬Maroc†‬-†‬N.-E.†‬Jalil†& ‬P.†‬Janvier†‬-†… Read more
Taurovenator: Research Database Theropoda (Dinosauria) · Late Cretaceous (~85 MYA) · South America — Argentina Research Note: Taurovenator was a theropod from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina — an important taxon for understanding theropod diversity in the Cretaceous of South America. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact Lockley et al. 2005: … Read more
Megalodon: Research Database Otodontidae (Chondrichthyes) · Miocene-Pliocene (~23-3.6 MYA) · Global marine environments Research Note: Megalodon — the largest macropredatory shark to ever live — dominated Miocene and Pliocene seas with estimated body lengths of 15-20 meters. Its teeth are among the most common marine fossils worldwide, and its extinction around 3.6 million years ago … Read more
In Depth        Edgarosaurus seems to have been one of the first polycoylid plesiosaurs to swim in the late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway,†‬a shallow sea that submerged much of central North American during the Cretaceous.†‬Like its relatives,†‬Edgarosaurus had a typical plesiosaur body but a short neck an elongated jaws,†‬features reminiscent of the … Read more
Aublysodon: Research Database Tyrannosauroidea? (Theropoda) · Late Cretaceous (~68–66 MYA) · North America — USA, Montana, Wyoming (Hell Creek Formation) Research Note: Aublysodon was a small tyrannosauroid theropod from the latest Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation of western North America. As one of the few known small tyrannosauroids from the very end of the Age … Read more