In Depth        Stromerius is a genus of basilosaurid whale that has been discovered in the world famous fossil deposits of Egypt,†‬some of which are well known for turning up the fossils of whales.†‬Unfortunately the harsh environmental conditions there can quickly erode exposed fossils,†‬and as for the case of Stromerius,†‬only some of … Read more
In Depth        Georgiacetus is one of the most primitive whale genera to be discovered in the United States,†‬with the holotype fossils discovered in the state of Georgia during the construction of a nuclear power station.†‬New fossil material discovered in†‬2008†‬resulted in confirmation that Georgiacetus did not have a fluked tail like modern … Read more
In Depth        Originally described as a species of Thoracosaurus,†‬T.†‬cherifiensis was established as a distinct genus in†‬2002,†‬creating Elosuchus.†‬Elosuchus was a marine crocodile that that possibly spent most of its life in the water.†‬The gharial†‬-like snout is suggestive that Elosuchus was more of a fish hunter. Further Reading -†‬Elosuchus,†… Read more
In Depth        Supersaurus is a relative of the ever famous Diplodocus and Apatosaurus†(‬formerly known as Brontosaurusâ€)‬,†‬as these three genera are all described as diplodocid sauropods.†‬Diplodocids are members of the Diplodocidae and are noted for their long necks and tails,†‬the latter of which are very thin and whip-like.†‬Diplodocids can be further … Read more
In Depth        Megantereon has a popular standing within the realm of big cat palaeontology as it is thought by many to be the ancestor to the considerably more famous Smilodon†(‬often incorrectly dubbed the Sabre-toothed tigerâ€)‬.†‬Megantereon itself is often referred to as a dirk toothed cat because while the upper canines are enlarged,†‬they … Read more
In Depth        Eoconstrictor is a genus of snake that lived in Europe during the Eocene.†‬As a constrictor,†‬Eoconstrictor would have squeezed its prey to death before swallowing them whole. Further reading -†‬Exquisitely Preserved Fossil Snakes of Messel:†‬Insight into the Evolution,†‬Biogeography,†‬Habitat Preferences and Sensory Ecology of Early Boas.†‬-†‬Diversity.†‬12†… Read more
In Depth        Although only known from partial remains,†‬Patagonykus is confirmed to have been an alvarezsaur,†‬small bipedal dinosaurs that are thought to have specialised in hunting insects.†‬Dinosaurs like Patagonykus were once thought to have been restricted to the lower stages of the upper Cretaceous,†‬however the discovery of Bonapartenykus in†‬2012†‬has revealed … Read more
In Depth        Acanthodes was what is called a spiny shark, a type of fish that are related to true sharks. The spiny sharks had spines that supported their fins as well as providing some defence against predators. Acanthodes however actually has relatively few spines for a spiny shark with a total of six spines being … Read more
In Depth        Pukyongosaurus is a genus of titanosaur that lived in Korea during the early Cretaceous. Further Reading -†‬A preliminary report on a sauropod from the Hasandong Formation†(‬Lower Cretaceousâ€)‬,†‬Korea.†‬-†‬Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Vertebrate Paleontology†‬41-53.†‬-†‬Z.†‬Dong,†‬I.†‬S.†‬Paik,†& ‬H.†… Read more
In Depth        Colombophis is a genus of snake that lived in South America during the Miocene. Further Reading – Le gisement de vertďż˝brďż˝s miocďż˝nes de La Venta (Colombie) et sa faune de serpents. – Annales de Palďż˝ontologie (Vertďż˝brďż˝s) 63: 161–190. – R. Hoffstetter & J. C. Rage – 1977. -†‬Reappraisal of the South American … Read more