In Depth Brachyceratops is regarded as a highly dubious genus of ceratopsian dinosaur that may represent the juvenile form of another already named genus, and indeed one specimen of Brachyceratops (USNM 14765, a sub adult referred to the original five juveniles) has already been moved to the Rubeosaurus genus. This would normally raise speculation that … Read more
Dyoplosaurus: Research Database Ankylosauridae (Dinosauria) · Late Cretaceous (~75 MYA) · North America — Canada (Alberta) Research Note: Dyoplosaurus was an ankylosaurid from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada — distinguished by its unique tail club and an important taxon for understanding ankylosaurid evolution in North America. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method … Read more
Helioceratops: Research Database Ceratopsia (Ornithischia) · Late Cretaceous (~83–72 MYA) · Asia — China (Jilin, Quantou Formation) Research Note: Helioceratops was a neoceratopsian from the Late Cretaceous Quantou Formation of Jilin, China. As a basal neoceratopsian, it provides important data on ceratopsian diversity and evolution in the Cretaceous of Asia. Research Finding Status … Read more
Dilophosaurus: Research Database Dilophosauridae (Theropoda) · Early Jurassic (~193 MYA) · North America — Arizona, China Research Note: Dilophosaurus is one of the best-known early theropod dinosaurs — famous from Jurassic Park for its frilled neck display (which was entirely fictional). Real Dilophosaurus was a mid-sized Early Jurassic theropod from the Kayenta Formation of Arizona, … Read more
Gastonia: Research Database Ankylosauridae (Ornithischia) · Early Cretaceous (~125 MYA) · North America — USA (Cedar City Formation, Utah) Research Note: Gastonia was a nodosaurid ankylosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Utah, one of the earliest known members of the ankylosaur lineage and an important specimen for understanding the early evolution of armoured ornithischian … Read more
Piveteausaurus: Research Database Ceratosauria (Theropoda) · Middle Jurassic (~170–165 MYA) · Europe — France (Loire Basin, Aquitanian) Research Note: Piveteausaurus was a small ceratosaurian theropod from the Middle Jurassic of France — one of the few named theropod dinosaurs from the Middle Jurassic of Western Europe and a poorly known but phylogenetically important taxon … Read more
Thecodontosaurus: Research Database Sauropodomorpha (Dinosauria) · Late Triassic (~210-205 MYA) · Europe — England (Bristol, Magnesian Conglomerate) Research Note: Thecodontosaurus was one of the earliest known sauropodomorph dinosaurs from the Late Triassic of England — a key taxon for understanding the origins of dinosaurs and the evolutionary transition from early dinosauriforms to true dinosaurs. … Read more
Berberosaurus: Research Database Ceratosauria (Theropoda) · Early–Middle Jurassic (~190–175 MYA) · North Africa — Morocco (Tazarine) Research Note: Berberosaurus was a small ceratosaurian theropod from the Early–Middle Jurassic of Morocco — one of the oldest known dinosaurs from North Africa and a critical window into early theropod diversity in Gondwana. Its name means “Berber … Read more
Vallibonavenatrix: Research Database Spinosauridae (Theropoda) · Early Cretaceous (~130-125 MYA) · Europe — Spain (Galve, Iberian Peninsula) Research Note: Vallibonavenatrix was a spinosaurid theropod from the Early Cretaceous of Spain — one of the few known spinosaurids from Europe and an important taxon for understanding spinosaurid evolution and biogeography during the Cretaceous period. … Read more
In Depth Parahongshanornis is a genus of primitive bird that lived in China during the early Cretaceous. The genus is noted for its similarity to another genus called Hongshanornis, hence the name Parahongshanornis which can be translated to English as ‘near Hongshanornis’. Further Reading - A new ornithurine bird (Hongshanornithidae) from the Jiufotang Formation of … Read more