Chordata - Prehistoric-Wildlife

Miadanasuchus

In Depth Miadanasuchus was originally described as a species of Trematochampsa back in‭ ‬1979,‭ ‬but re-identified as its own genus in‭ ‬2009.‭ ‬Miadanasuchus may have been one of the key predators of the Maevarano Formation.‭ ‬Other predatory crocodiles from the same formation include Mahajangasuchus and Araripesuchus. Further Reading -‭ ‬New Material of‭ “‬Trematochampsa‭” ‬Oblita‭ (‬Crocodyliformes,Trematochampsidae‭) … Read more

Tototlmimus

In Depth Tototlmimus is a genus of ornithomimosaur that lived in Mexico during the late Cretaceous.‭ ‬So far Tototlmimus is only known from fossils of some foot bones and fingers,‭ ‬and so it is hard to infer much about this dinosaur other than that it has been estimated to have been a medium sized ornithomimid. … Read more

Siats

In Depth Although only known from the incomplete remains of a juvenile,‭ ‬the dinosaur Siats seems to have been one of the larger theropod dinosaurs from North America.‭ ‬ The partial remains of the holotype individual which mostly include elements of the hind quarters are estimated to have come from an individual dinosaur that was … Read more

Machairoceratops

In Depth Machairoceratops is a genus of centrosaurine ceratopsian dinosaur that lived in North America during the late Cretaceous.‭ ‬At the time of the genus description in‭ ‬2016,‭ ‬Machairoceratops is only known from partial skull and horn remains.‭ ‬We can however ascertain a few facts about this dinosaur.‭ ‬One is that Machairoceratops was a centrosaurine … Read more

Jiutaisaurus

In Depth Jiutaisaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in China during the Cretaceous. Further Reading -‭ ‬A New Sauropod Dinosaur from the Cretaceous of Jiutai,‭ ‬Jilin,‭ ‬China.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Global Geology‭ ‬25‭(‬1‭)‬:‭ ‬6-9.‭ ‬-‭ ‬W.‭ ‬-H.‭ ‬Wu,‭ ‬Z.‭ ‬-M.‭ ‬Dong,‭ ‬Y.‭ ‬-W.‭ ‬Sun,‭ ‬C.‭ ‬-T.‭ ‬Li‭ & ‬T.‭ ‬Li‭ ‬-‭ ‬2006.

Chaoyangopterus

In Depth Determining the phylogenetic position of Chaoyangopterus was problematic to the extent that the Chaoyangopteridae has now been created within the Azhdarchoidea to accommodate it and other similar pterosaurs. Chaoyangopterus is toothless and is thought to have been a piscivore. Further Reading – Two new pterodactyloid pterosaurs from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of … Read more

Gigantosaurus

In Depth Gigantosaurus is a little known and currently dubious genus of sauropod dinosaur.‭ ‬The fossils that are assigned to the genus could come from a sauropod,‭ ‬but they were all found disarticulated and separately,‭ ‬raising the notion that they could be from more than one individual.‭ ‬The state of preservation also means that it … Read more

Komensaurus

In Depth Komensaurus was a basal mosasaur that was similar to other primitive forms such as Dallasaurus and Vallecillosaurus which are currently known from North America.‭ ‬Together these mosasaurs show that while they were primitive in form,‭ ‬the first mosasaurs were still capable of crossing wide expanses of ocean to spread out into new locations. … Read more

Iuticosaurus

In Depth Iuticosaurus is a genus of titanosaurian dinosaur,‭ ‬though one that is widely regarded as dubious.‭ ‬Why it is dubious stems all the way back to‭ ‬1887‭ ‬when Richard Lydekker named two caudal vertebrae‭ (‬BMNH R146a‭ ‬ and‭ ‬BMNH‭ ‬151‭) ‬as belonging to the genus Onithopsis.‭ ‬His reason for this was that fossils of … Read more

Hypohippus

In Depth Originally named after a species of Anchitherium,‭ ‬Hypohippus‭ ‬was a primitive three toed‭ ‬horse that browsed upon vegetation rather than grazing on grass.‭ ‬Hypohippus acquired its name from the low middle cusp of its molars.‭ ‬As a browser‭ ‬the teeth had proportionately lower crowns than the teeth of grazing horses.‭ ‬Hypohippus would have … Read more