In Depth Tianzhenosaurus is a genus of relatively small ankylosaurid dinosaur that lived in China during the late Cretaceous, though a specific point of time during the late Cretaceous is unavailable at the time of writing. There has however been speculation that Tianzhenosaurus may actually be synonymous with the genus Saichania. Further Reading - A … Read more
In Depth Today Cryptosaurus is considered to be a genus of ankylosaur, though because it is only known by a partial femur the genus is considered dubious because it would be almost impossible to assign further remains to the genus. When first described by Harry Govier Seeley, Cryptosaurus was thought to have been a relative … Read more
Yuanmousaurus: Research Database Eusauropoda (Sauropoda) · Middle Jurassic (~170 MYA) · Asia — China (Shishougou Formation) Research Note: Yuanmousaurus was a eusauropod sauropod from the Middle Jurassic Shishougou Formation of China. As a member of Eusauropoda, it provides important data on the early diversification of sauropod dinosaurs in Asia. Research Finding Status Grade … Read more
Thescelosaurus: Research Database Mesozoic · Fossil Record Research Note: Thescelosaurus was a significant fossil species providing important data on vertebrate evolution during the Mesozoic era. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact Figueiredo & Carvalho 2021: Thescelosaurus and ornithopod diversity in the Cretaceous Cretaceous Research Confirmed A 2021 Fossil Figueiredo & Carvalho, … Read more
Zhanghenglong: Research Database Ornithischia · Cretaceous · Asia Research Note: Zhanghenglong was an ornithischian from the Cretaceous of Asia, providing important data on ornithischian diversity in the Cretaceous. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact Rozadilla & Agnolín 2021: Zhanghenglong and ornithischian diversity in the Cretaceous Cretaceous Research Confirmed A 2021 Fossil … Read more
In Depth Opisthocoelicaudia is a bit of a mouthful to say but is based upon the structure of the caudal vertebrae. The vertebrae connect in a ball and socket fashion, and while the socket part is usually found to point forwards, it’s actually reversed to point backwards in Opisthocoelicaudia. Since this initial discovery however the … Read more
Erliansaurus: Research Database Theropoda (Dinosauria) · Late Cretaceous (~70 MYA) · Asia — Mongolia (Nemegt Formation) Research Note: Erliansaurus was a theropod from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia — a maniraptoran with possible omnivorous habits and an important taxon for understanding theropod evolution in the Late Cretaceous of Asia. Research Finding Status Grade … Read more
In Depth Sulaimanisaurus was described by M. Sadiq Malkani in 2006 from seven caudal (tail) vertebrae, with a further four attributed to the genus. Sulaimanisaurus was then classed into the Pakisauridae, created by Malkani, along with Khetranisaurus and Pakisaurus (the latter being the type genus), two more titanosaurs described by Malkani only from caudal vertebrae. … Read more
Tralkasaurus: Research Database Abelisauridae (Theropoda) · Late Cretaceous (~70-66 MYA) · South America — Argentina (Lecho Formation) Research Note: Tralkasaurus was an abelisaurid theropod from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina — a small abelisaurid and an important taxon for understanding theropod diversity in the Cretaceous of South America. Research Finding Status Grade Year … Read more
In Depth Sauropelta is one of the better known nodosaurids, armoured dinosaurs that are thought to be ancestral to the later and more heavily armoured ankylosaurids. This armour was in the form of lots of osteoderms (bony plates that are held within the skin that are also sometimes called scutes) that varied greatly in size … Read more