In Depth Lophostropheus was initially assigned as a specimen of Halticosaurus until 1993 it was re-classified as a second species of Liliensternus, a genus that was also previously established as a species of Halticosaurus. A new study in 2007 however concluded that while the fossils were similar, they were different enough to be established as … Read more
In Depth Qijianglong is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in China during the late Jurassic. At the time of writing the genus is only known from a single juvenile, yet this juvenile is already fifteen meters long. It is uncertain how big Qijianglong could grow, but at fifteen meters just for a juvenile, … Read more
In Depth The discovery of Gilmoreosaurus began in 1923 when the first fossil remains were discovered. These remains were however referred to the genus Mandschurosaurus as a new species, which is where they remained until a study by Brett-Surman in 1979 saw them re-identified as a distinct genus separate from Mandschurosaurus. Later in 1995, two … Read more
In Depth It could be said that Jobaria is a sauropod that doesn’t know what it is due to a mix of different traits. The vertebrae of Jobaria are very simple in form which has led to some suggestion that Jobaria is a primitive sauropod. Study of other areas however has led to speculation that … Read more
In Depth Superficially, Utahraptor appears to be an earlier, scaled up version of Deinonychus. Specimens of Utahraptor are fragmentary but suggest a potential size of up to seven meters long, with some more conservative estimates falling nearer six meters long. These estimates make Utahraptor a contender for one of the largest known dromaeosaurid dinosaurs, but … Read more
In Depth Gongbusaurus is a genus of small ornithischian dinosaur that lived in China during the Jurassic. Further Reading – [Dinosaurs from the Jurassic of Sichuan]. - Palaeontologica Sinica, New Series C, Whole Number 162(23):1-136. - Z. Dong, S. Zhou & H. Zhang - 1983.
In Depth Corythosaurus acquired its name from the shape of the head crest on the back of its skull which resembles a Corinthian helmet from ancient Greece. Because this head crest was hollow, Corythosaurus is today classed as a lambeosaurine hadrosaurid. The lambeosaurine hadrosaurs which also include other famous genera such as Parasaurolophus as well … Read more
In Depth Zuolong was a relatively small Jurassic aged theropod that has been classed within the Coelurosauria. Due to its small size it was probably a predator of small vertebrates such as lizard, primitive mammals to even smaller dinosaurs. Zuolong however may have been potential prey for even larger theropods that are also known from … Read more
In Depth In modern times Szechuanosaurus is widely regarded as a dubious genus because it has only been described from a collection of isolated teeth. Also, because these teeth do not really have any specifically characteristic features, it is highly unlikely that skeletal remains could be later attributed to these teeth (like what happened with … Read more
In Depth When Willinakaqe was first described it was from a collection of fossils from various different individual dinosaurs. With the holotype bones of Willinakaqe weathered, the other fossil bones were used as stand in to get a more complete picture of this dinosaur. This involved establishing what is known as a paratype, a more … Read more