In Depth Daemonosaurus has a distinguished skull that is unlike any other dinosaur currently known from the time. The upper teeth are mounted in a short snout and protrude forwards from the tip. This is mirrored in the lower jaw and was the inspiration for the type species name D. chauliodus that loosely translated means … Read more
In Depth Dahalokely is so far only known by very incomplete remains, but if it’s identification as an abelisauroid is correct, then it certainly was very small for its type. Alternatively, if Dahalokely turns out to be a noasaur, a group of theropods closely related to abelisaurs, then it would be expected to have a … Read more
In Depth Biarmosuchus is noted as being a primitive theraspid, the group of mammal like reptiles that evolved from the pelycosaurs, and whose descendents would go onto becoming the first mammals. As a predator, Biarmosuchus was likely a fast hunter capable of running down its prey. This is evidenced by its long slender limbs that … Read more
In Depth Dyslocosaurus is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaur that lived in North America during the late Jurassic. It is unknown exactly where the type fossils of Dyslocosaurus are known from as when they were first discovered they only had ‘Lance Creek’ written on them. There is a Lance Formation that is named after … Read more
In Depth Kansaignathus is a genus of velociraptorine dromaeosaurid dinosaur that lived in Central Asia during the late Cretaceous. Further reading - A New Theropod Dinosaur (Theropoda, Dromaeosauridae) from the Late Cretaceous of Tajikistan. - Doklady Earth Sciences. 499 (1): 570–574. - A. O. Averianov & A. V. Lopatin - 2021.
In Depth Phiomia was a primitive proboscean of the Eocene/Oligocene that was still quite similar in appearance to a modern elephant. One of the key features about Phiomia was the lower mouth where two tusks grew forwards into a shovel-like structure. This may have been used to shovel up plants from out of the ground, … Read more
In Depth Artiocetus was an important transisitional find because individuals of this genus still possessed artiodactyl-like ankles. In modern palaeontology whales have long been thought to have descended from land living artiodactyl ancestors, specifically anthracotheres, and the observation of artiodactyl ankles in a primitive whale is further proof of this theory. Although a whale ancestor, … Read more
In Depth One of the hyaenodonts, Tritemnodon means ‘three cutting tooth’ and is a reference to how the teeth were formed for greater slicing efficiency, something that hyaenodonts have a reputation for being able to with the greatest ease. The relatively small stature and gracile build of Tritemnodon means that these were most likely predators … Read more
In Depth Lagerpeton is a very primitive dinosauromorph that lived in South America during the early Triassic. So primitive is Lagerpeton that it is easily among the most basal dinosauromorphs that we currently know about. Several features can be observed in the known Lagerpeton material including neural spins on the dorsal vertebrae that are slanting … Read more
In Depth Cathayopterus is another member of the filter feeding group of pterosaurs that are known from all over the world with particularly notable genera hailing from South America (Pterodaustro) and Europe (Ctenochasma). Further Reading – Pterosaur assemblages of the Jehol Biota and their implication for the Early Cretaceous pterosaur radiation. – Geological Journal. 41 … Read more