In Depth In 1941 an alligator specimen from the Green River Formation was interpreted as being a new species of Hassiacosuchus by C. C. Mook. However a later 1967 study by Wassersug and Hecht found the remains of the second species actually belonged within the Procaimanoidea genus, and as such the second species of Hassiacosuchus … Read more
In Depth Like its close cousin the American lion (Panthera atrox) the Eurasian cave lion currently has a disputed position amongst other members of the Panthera genus. Once considered a specific species in its own right the Eurasian cave lion was eventually more widely treated as a sub species of the African lion (Panthera leo). However, … Read more
In Depth Megalophthalma is a genus of temnospondyl amphibian that lived in Germany during the mid Triassic. Further Reading - Skull morphology and phylogenetic relationships of a new Middle Triassic plagiosaurid temnospondyl from Germany, and the evolution of plagiosaurid eyes. - Palaeontology. - R. R. Schoch, A. R. Milner & F. Witzmann - 2014.
In Depth Sarahsaurus is currently one of the few known basal sauropodomorphs from North America, with other genera including Anchisaurus and Seitaad. The sauropodomorphs were the forerunners to the later giant sauropods that would become dominant as the Jurassic era progressed on. As a basal sauropodomorph, Sarahsaurus is thought to have been a plant eating … Read more
In Depth Halszkaraptor is without doubt one of the most interesting dromaeosaurid dinosaurs ever discovered. Although a dromaeosaurid dinosaur, Halszkaraptor seems to have lived more like a modern day semi aquatic bird. Halszkaraptor could still walk about on land, the rear legs were easily strong enough for this. But the tail was not stiffened like … Read more
In Depth Fossils of Cruxicheiros were first discovered in 1960 when they were discovered in the Cross Hand Quarry of Warwickshire, which as you have no doubt already realised is the inspiration for the name Cruxicheiros which means ‘Cross Hand’. At the time the fossils were just lumped in with Megalosaurus, which has for a … Read more
In Depth In overall form and proportions Hesperocyon wasn’t much like a dog as we know them today, but it has still been confirmed to be one of the first canids to appear on the landscape. The key identifying feature is the ear structure within the skull which is enclosed by bone rather than cartiladge. … Read more
In Depth Majiashanosaurus is a genus of sauropterygian reptile that lived in waters around China during the early Triassic. Further Reading - The Early Triassic eosauropterygian Majiashanosaurus discocoracoidis, gen. et sp. nov. (Reptilia, Sauropterygia), from Chaohu, Anhui Province, People’s Republic of China. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34 (5): 1044–1052. - Da-Yong Jiang, Ryosuke Motani, … Read more
In Depth At the time of its naming Pangupterus is known only from a single jaw bone. This jaw reveals that this pterosaur had small conical teeth jutting out to the sides at an angle. This in turn suggests that Pangupterus was a hunter of fish. Further Reading - A New Pterodactyloid Pterosaur from the … Read more
In Depth Further Reading – The Great Predatory Birds of the Pleistocene of Cuba. – Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology number 27, pp. 169-187. – Oscar Arredondo – 1982. – Los Strigiformes f�siles del pleistoceno cubano. – Bolet�n de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales 140, 33-55. – Oscar Arredondo – 1982.