In Depth        Scymnosaurus is a genus of scylacosaurid therapsid. Further Reading Further reading- On Some New Primitive Theriodonts in the South African Museum. – Annals of the South African Museum 4(2):147-158. – R. Broom – 1903.
In Depth        The nasal horn of Einiosaurus is quite unusual in that it curves forward to point towards the ground,†‬something which is reflected in the species name E.†‬procurvicornis which translates to English as†‘‬forward curving horn‒‬.†‬In young Einiosaurus this horn is thought to have started out small,†‬but as the individual grew … Read more
In Depth        Atlantosaurus was named by Othniel Charles Marsh in†‬1877,†‬though his first choice of name was Titanosaurus.†‬However,†‬Titanosaurus had actually been established as a genus name by Richard Lydekker earlier that same year,†‬so Marsh renamed his fossils as Atlantosaurus.†‬At the time of their original naming,†‬the two vertebrae that are … Read more
In Depth        Podokesaurus is often spoken about as being a valid genus,†‬yet the partial remains of the fossils attributed to this genus are considered to be near identical of another dinosaur named Coelophysis.†‬In fact the genus is sometimes referenced as Coelophysis holyokensis,†‬though the genus name Podokesaurus also still appears in use despite … Read more
In Depth        Not only was Cymbospondylus one of earliest ichthyosaurs named,†‬it was also one of the first to swim in the Triassic oceans.†‬Cymbospondylus is an example of the primitive ichthyosaurs that were yet to evolve dorsal fins and developed tail flukes which left it with a long body,†‬half of which was tail.†… Read more
In Depth        Initially thought to be a diapsid,†‬Apsisaurus was later realised to a Eupelycosaurian varnopisd.†‬As a Varanopid,†‬Apsisaurus was related to the more famous Varanops which also lived in Texas at the same approximate time as Apsisaurus. Further Reading -†‬The osteology of a Lower Permian eosuchian from Texas and a review of … Read more
In Depth        As a lobe finned fish,†‬Hyneria would have looked like a larger version of Eusthenopteron.†‬It had powerful fins,†‬but the popularised image of Hyneria using them to crawl across land is to date only speculation.†‬Itâ€â€™â€¬s likely that they would have been of more use while navigating shallow waters and submerged obstacles. … Read more
In Depth Further Reading – Nuralagus rex, gen. et sp. nov., an endemic insular giant rabbit from the Neogene of Minorca. – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31 (2): 231–240 – Josep Quintana, Mike Kohler, Salvador Moya-Sola – 2011. – Palaeontology: The giant rabbits of Minorca. – Nature 472: 9 – Meike Kohler – 2011. – … Read more
In Depth        Gogonasus was first named in†‬1985†‬from a single preserved snout,†‬but since this time better and better specimens have been recovered,†‬with several skulls,†‬and a complete three dimensionally preserved individual discovered in†‬2005†(‬another example of how the Gogo Formation of Australia is yielding exquisitely well preserved fossilsâ€)‬.†‬Gogonasus is thought … Read more
In Depth        Mitredon is a genus of cynodont that lived in what is now Greenland during the late Triassic. Further Reading -†‬A cynodont from the Upper Triassic of East Greenland:†‬tooth replacement and double-rootedness.†‬-†‬Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology†‬156:49-58.†‬-†‬M.†‬D.†‬Shapiro†& ‬F.†‬A.†‬Jenkins†‬-†‬2001.