In Depth Although only described from very incomplete remains, the relatively good state of preservation of them has allowed for the description of a new genus, Albertadromeus. Albertadromeus is believed to have been a small cursorial (ground dwelling) ornithopod that roamed around on just its two rear legs. The preserved limb elements known show that … Read more
In Depth Eustreptospondylus was first described in 1841, but the original fossil material has since been lost. A second set of remains was discovered in 1964 and is surmised to be Eustreptospondylus based upon the description of the original material. The new material features vertebra that are lacking development of the upper parts, indicating that … Read more
In Depth At the time of its naming, Avitabatrachus is the earliest known occurrence of a pipoid frog in South America. Further Reading - The Earliest Known Pipoid Frog from South America: A New Genus from the Middle Cretaceous of Argentina. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology) 20 (3): 490–500. - … Read more
In Depth Samburupithecus is known to have low and broad cheek bones that housed a large maxillary sinus. The alveolar process (the bone that holds the teeth) is straight and houses teeth that are elongated back to front, similar to some great apes. The teeth have a thick coating of enamel and have cusps that … Read more
In Depth Gannansaurus is a little known genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in China during the late Cretaceous. Because the genus is based upon the description of what is in essence one and a half vertebra very little can be said about this dinosaur. However, the vertebrae of Gannansaurus do show a similarity to … Read more
In Depth This large abelisaurid roamed ancient Patagonia where it may have competed with other predatory dinosaurs like the contempory carcharodontosaurid Mapusaurus. Skorpiovenator shares the same characteristic short but high skull morphology, and may not have had a large bite force, as has been suggested for some other abelisaurids. Skorpiovenator may have used its deep … Read more
In Depth Varanosaurus is a genus of pelycosaur that live in the southern USA during the Permian. Care should be taken not to confuse Varanosaurus with two very similar pelycosaurs named Varanops and Varanodon. Further Reading - Permische Stegocephalen und Reptilien aus Texas. - Palaeontographica 51:1-120 - F. broili - 1904.
In Depth Estimated at over eight meters long, Tarchia is one of the largest ankylosaurids currently known, rivalling even the more famous Ankylosaurus. In fact given that Ankylosaurus is still known only from partial remains, Tarchia may one day actually prove to be the biggest. Tarchia was named along with another large, but slightly smaller … Read more
In Depth Aerosteon was a member of Megaraptora, a group of lightly built theropod dinosaurs that are notable for having enlarged claws upon their hands. The name of this group is derived from the misidentification of first member of the group, Megaraptor being misdentified as a dromaeosaurid ‘raptor’ based upon the presence of a single … Read more
In Depth Kurupi is a genus of abelisaurid dinosaur that lived in South America during the late Cretaceous. As an abelisaurid dinosaur we can infer what the missing parts of this dinosaur may have looked at by comparing it to better preserved genera. As such, Kurupi would have had fairly standard large theropod body proportions, … Read more