In Depth Deltadromeus was a mid-sized theropod that lived in North Africa, but while the time period it is known from places it in the late (or alternatively upper) Cretaceous, it actually roughly lived during the middle of this period. The skull of this dinosaur is so far unknown but the recovered post cranial remains … Read more
In Depth Gengasaurus is a genus of ichthyosaur that lived in European waters during the late Jurassic. Further Reading - The first ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaur from the Upper Jurassic of the Umbrian-Marchean Apennines (Marche, Central Italy). - Geological Magazine 154(4):837-858. - I. Paparella, E. E. Maxwell, A. Cipriani, S. Roncace & M. W. Caldwell - 2017.
In Depth Nambalia is a genus of sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived in India during the late Triassic. Further Reading - New dinosaur species from the Upper Triassic Upper Maleri and Lower Dharmaram formations of Central India. - Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 101:333-349. - F. E. Novas, M. D. … Read more
In Depth Hesperornithoides is a genus of troodontid dinosaur that lived in North America during the late Jurassic. Further reading - A new paravian dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of North America supports a late acquisition of avian flight. - PeerJ 7:e7247. - S. Hartman, M. Mortimer, W. R. Wahl, D. R. Lomax, J. Lippincott … Read more
In Depth Griphodon is a little known and little understood genus of mammal from South America. Further Reading - A new fossil perissodactyl from Peru. - American Museum Novitates 111:1–13 - H. E. Anothony - 1924.
In Depth A relatively small canid, Eucyon is one of the earliest true dogs to enter the fossil record. Living during the late Miocene it would have been in competition with larger and more dangerous predators such as the amphicyonids, however Eucyon and its relatives were better adapted to the on-going climatic changes of the … Read more
In Depth Plesiobalaenoptera is a genus of rorqual baleen whale that lived in the seas of Europe during the Miocene. Further Reading - A new balaenopterid whale from the late Miocene of the Stirone River, Northern Italy (Mammalia, Cetacea, Mysticeti). - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(3):943-958. - M. Bisconti - 2010.
In Depth The Carbonemys holotype remains were first discovered in a coal mine, and since coal is essentially fossilised carbon, the name Carbonemys was chosen for the genus. The form of the shell is very interesting as it indicates that Carbonemys would have been a member of the Pleurodira, a group better known as the … Read more
In Depth Synthetoceras is one of the better known members of the Protoceratidae, and this is thanks to the head ornamentation of the males of this genus. Rising above the eyes and ears was a pair of horns that curved upwards forming a crescent shape when viewed from the front. Then things get a little … Read more
In Depth Othnielosaurus is a genus of small ornithopod dinosaur that seems to have been widespread across Central North America during the late Jurassic. Othnielosaurus would have been a bipedal dinosaur relying more upon speed and agility to stay out of the mouths of predatory dinosaurs. Othnielosaurus like other ornithopods were herbivorous dinosaurs that would … Read more