In Depth Changyuraptor is another of an increasing number of dromaeosaurid dinosaurs that have been dubbed ‘four-winged dromaeosaurs’. This is because Changyuraptor did not just have well developed pennaceous feathers on the arms; they also grew from the back of the legs. The first of these dromaeosaurs to be described was Microraptor which is speculated … Read more
In Depth Named in 2001, Quilmesaurus is so far known only from two right leg bones, and one of those is incomplete. This makes it very hard to establish details about Quilmesaurus, but assuming that the genus has similar body proportions to other abelisaurid dinosaurs then it is possible to scale the existing fossils of … Read more
In Depth Barapasaurus was an Early Jurassic sauropod that seems to be caught in between other sauropod forms. The vertebrae of Barapasaurus are solid which has seen this sauropod placed within the Cetiosauridae, however the narrow sacrum is more characteristic of the Vulcanodontidae sauropods. Palaeontologists are split as to which placement is the most valid … Read more
In Depth As a basal therizinosaur Beipiaosaurus revealed some surprising characteristics, hence the species name inexpectus. One of these characteristics is the underdeveloped inner toes, something that is very different to later therizinosaurids which have all four toes developed and in contact with the ground. This has been taken as an indication of a three … Read more
In Depth Another European ornithopod that was once described as a species of Camptosaurus, Cumnoria was established as a distinct genus in 1888. At three and a half meters long for the first (and at the time of writing only) individual found, it may be that Cumnoria was a fairly small ornithopod. However, studies of … Read more
In Depth Initially thought to be one of the most primitive birds in the fossil record, later studies have depicted Jinfengopteryx as a small troodontid theropod dinosaur. This new interpretation has been derived from observation of the form of the skull and the presence of an enlarged sickle claw on the second toe of each … Read more
In Depth Struthiosaurus seems to have been fairly common across Europe during the Late Cretaceous, a time when much of continental Europe was more like an island chain. Originally based upon fragmentary Austrian material, many genera named by Harry Govier Seeley late in the nineteenth century have now been synonymised with Struthiosaurus. This combined with … Read more
In Depth Named in 2016 from a single specimen, Viavenator is another of the growing number of South American abelisaurid dinosaurs that are known to us. At a glance Viavenator does not seem to be anything special apart from being another abelisaur, however the authors of the paper describing this dinosaur have identified a combination … Read more
In Depth Superficially Sanjuansaurus was probably similar to Herrerasaurus in general appearance, but some skeletal features seem to have been slightly more primitive. Sanjuansaurus lived in the same time and location as its more famous relative Herrerasaurus which would suggest that this form held an important place in their ecosystem. Neither Sanjuansaurus nor Herrerasaurus would … Read more
In Depth Little is known about Wannanosaurus, but the skull specimen found appears to have been from a fully grown adult as the bones that make up the skull show signs of being fused together. Wannanosaurus is considered a primitive member of the pachycephalosaurs because it has a flat skull roof and enlarged openings when … Read more