Protopteryx

In Depth        Protopteryx is a genus of enantiornithine bird that lived in Asia during the early Cretaceous.‭ ‬An interesting note about Protopteryx is that it is among the most primitive enantiornithine birds known to live in the early Cretaceous.‭ ‬Protopteryx was very small,‭ ‬only about ten centimetres from head to tail‭ (‬excluding the feathers‭)‬.‭ ‬Protopteryx … Read more

Contectopalatus

In Depth        Contectopalatus was originally described as a species of Ichthyosaurus,‭ ‬the type genus of the Ichthyosauria that in the early days of palaeontology was treated as a catch all wastebasket taxon for any and all ichthyosaur fossils.‭ ‬Later study saw Ichthyosaurus atavus assigned to the Mixosaurus genus upon the grounds of overall similarity to … Read more

Ovoo

In Depth        Although only known from a partial skull,‭ ‬Ovoo represents not only one of the smallest monitor lizards to ever live,‭ ‬but also one of the earliest appearances of a monitor lizard.‭ ‬Unfortunately because Ovoo is only known from an incomplete skull,‭ ‬it is very difficult to estimate the full body size of Ovoo … Read more

Brochuchus

In Depth        Brochuchus is a genus of crocodile that lived in Africa during the Miocene.‭ ‬The genus Brochuchus was named‭ ‬after Christopher A.‭ ‬Brochu in recognition for his work on cocodylians and associated animals.‭ Further reading -‭ ‬New specimens of‭ ‘‬Crocodylus‭’ ‬pigotti‭ (‬Crocodylidae‭) ‬from Rusinga Island,‭ ‬Kenya,‭ ‬and generic reallocation of the species.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal … Read more

Hadrosaurus

In Depth        In terms of paleontological study,‭ ‬Hadrosaurus was a genus of firsts.‭ ‬One of the things that the genus is famous for is that it was the first dinosaur to have a skeleton mounted for public display.‭ ‬Earlier reconstructions such as the now outdated dinosaurs of Crystal Park in England are brick and concrete … Read more

Xingxiulong

In Depth        Xingxiulong is a genus of sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived in China during the early Jurassic.‭ ‬The robust nature of the fossils bones strongly suggest that Xingxiulong would have been heavily built in life,‭ ‬though likely still would have been bipedal. Further Reading -‭ ‬A new basal sauropodiform dinosaur from the Lower Jurassic of … Read more

Jinbeisaurus

In Depth        Jinbeisaurus is a genus of tyrannosaur that lived in China during the Late Cretaceous,‭ ‬and is the first dinosaur of its kind discovered in Shanxi Province.‭ ‬Fossils of Jinbeisaurus are very partially preserved meaning it is hard to be certain about too much detail about this dinosaur.‭ ‬The size of the fossils of … Read more

Olorotitan

olorotitan

In Depth        Hadrosaurs have a long association with North America,‭ ‬but they are known from other areas like Asia where they are usually‭ ‬represented by incomplete remains.‭ ‬Olorotitan however was almost complete and became widespread through palaeontology circles as the most complete lambeosaurine hadrosaurid outside of North America.‭ ‬With eighteen vertebrae Olorotitan is also remarkable … Read more

Emydops

In Depth        Emydops is a genus of small dicynodont that lived across South Africa to India during the Late Permian.‭ ‬One notable observation about the genus is that while some skulls have tusks,‭ ‬others actually lack them. Further Reading -‭ ‬A new species of Emydops‭ (‬Synapsida,‭ ‬Anomodontia‭) ‬and a discussion of dental variability and pathology … Read more

Trematochampsa

In Depth        Trematochampsa is a genus of crocodile that lived in what is now Niger during the Late Cretaceous.‭ ‬A second species named in‭ ‬1979‭ ‬as T.‭ ‬oblita has now been reassigned to its own genus,‭ ‬Miadanasuchus. Trematochampsa is now considered to be more of a nomen dubium since these fossils are actually made up … Read more