In Depth To date not much can be revealed about Bakonydraco other than it was almost certainly an azdarchid pterosaur. Bakonydraco did still differ from many other azdarchids however by having what appears to have been a tall, deep beak. This has implied a possibly piscivorous specialisation as opposed to a more general carnivore. It … Read more
In Depth Although Jianchangnathus has been found to have several similarities with Scaphognathus, its frontal teeth actually pointed forwards like with Dorygnathus. This may have been to make it easier for Jianchangnathus to pick up fish with its mouth, significantly increasing the chance of successful prey capture. Another pterosaur from the same deposit is Fenghuangopterus, … Read more
In Depth A relative of the much more famous Edaphosaurus, Gordodon is a genus of sailbacked pelycosaur that lived in North America during the early Permian. The appearance of Gordodon in the early Permian combined with the shape of the teeth which are rounded and formed in rows suggests that Gordodon was one of the … Read more
In Depth Oligolactoria was a genus of boxfish that seems to show a resemblance to the modern genus Lactoria. Like modern Lactoria box fish, Oligolactoria was a probably a reef fish. Further Reading - A New Genus and Species of Boxfish (Tetraodontiformes: Ostraciidae) from the Oligocene of Moravia, the Second Fossil Representative of the Family. … Read more
In Depth In 1965 on July 9th the Polish paleobiologist Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska made what would become marked as one of the most fascinating dinosaur discoveries of all time. During a joint Polish-Mongolian expedition into the Gobi desert of �mn�govi Province, Mongolia, she found the partial remains of a then unknown dinosaur, including a complete pair … Read more
In Depth Parksosaurus was first described by William Parks as a species of Thescelosaurus in 1926, but in 1937 Charles M. Sternberg reclassified it as a distinct genus. Sternberg chose the name Parksosaurus which means Park’s lizard in recognition of the initial work done by William Parks. Parksosaurus and Thescelosaurus together are proof that even … Read more
In Depth Mambawakale is a genus of paracrocodylomorph that lived during the Triassic. Further Reading - A new pseudosuchian archosaur, Mambawakale ruhuhu gen. et sp. nov., from the Middle Triassic Manda Beds of Tanzania. - The Royal Society. 9 (2). - Richard J. Butler, Vincent Fernandez, Sterling J. Nesbitt, Jo�o Vasco Leite & David J. … Read more
In Depth A very fascinating discovery, Caelestiventus has helped add to our knowledge of Triassic age pterosaurs greatly. Most Triassic age pterosaurs are known from relatively incomplete remains so one with has skull and jaw material like Caelestiventus is rare indeed. The Caelestiventus holotype fossil is also among the first discovered in North America, most … Read more
In Depth Although the name actually means ‘ox bird’, Bullockornis is better known in popular culture as the ‘Demon duck of doom’. This is in part because Bullockornis is thought to be more closely related to ducks and geese than any other group of birds. Although Bullockornis was without doubt a large bird, it was … Read more
In Depth Phorcys is a genus of gorgonopsid therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian. When named, Phorcys was described from a partial skull that revealed much of the posterior section but none of the anterior. Nonetheless these skulsl could still be compared to better preserved specimens of relative gorgonopsid genera. This led … Read more