In Depth Othnielia was originally named as a species of Nanosaurus as N. rex back in 1877 by famed American palaeontologist Othniel Charles Marsh. This was based upon a femur (YPM 1875), but in 1977, a later palaeontologist named Peter Galton renamed the femur as well as some associated skeletal remains as the genus Othnielia, … Read more
In Depth Originally thought to represent a species of Prognathodon, Gnathomortis was established as a distinct genus of mosasaur in 2020. Further reading - Prognathodon stadtmani (Mosasauridae): a new species from the Mancos Shale (Lower Campanian) of western Colorado. - Utah Geological Survey Miscellaneous Publication. 99 (1): 275–294. - M. S. Kass - 1999. - … Read more
In Depth The type specimen of Nopcsaspondylus, a dorsal vertebra, was first described by Franz Nopsca in 1902, who referred it to the now dubious sauropod genus Bothriospondylus, quite surprising when you consider that the Bothriospondylus type material came from England. This vertebrae was renamed as Nopcsaspondylus in 2007, with the identification that it represents … Read more
In Depth Yixianopterus had numerous small concical teeth in its jaws that would have allowed it to pluck fish from the water. The pterosaur Avgodectes is considered by some to be a potential synonym of Yixianopterus, although at the time of writing this is still under debate. Further Reading – New pterodactyloid pterosaur from the … Read more
In Depth Redondavenator is a genus of sphenosuchid crocodylomorph that lived in the USA during the later stages of the Triassic. Only the anterior (forward) portion of the skull is known, though estimates of the complete skull result in a reconstructed length of at least sixty centimetres, and when combined with the post cranial remains, … Read more
In Depth Bought from a Moroccan fossil dealer, the only known fossil of Sauroniops is of the upper eye socket. This material however is unlike any other known theropod of the time and location, and displays enlargement of the bone growth, something that may have been the underlying support for eye crest displays in the … Read more
In Depth Thalassiodracon fossils were first identified and described as belonging to a species of Plesiosaurus by Richard Owen in 1840. It was not until over one and a half centuries later that the actual description of the fossils belonging to a distinct genus would come to pass. In addition to this several more species … Read more
In Depth Vallesaurus is a genus of small drepanosaur that lived in Italy during the late Triassic. drepanosaurs were arboreal lizards with hands and claws adapted for holding onto branches, as well as tails which hooked downwards for further grip. In essence that lived in much the same way as modern day chamaeleons, though it … Read more
In Depth Incisivosaurus was a rather bizarre looking dinosaur thanks to its oversized front teeth of the upper jaw. More interesting though is the fact that these teeth show wear patterns that fit in with a herbivorous diet, an indication that although a theropod, Incisivosaurus was at the very least partially herbivorous. Apart from this, … Read more
In Depth The small size of Elginia is in stark contrast to the larger pareiasaurs such as Scutosaurus. This reduction in size is often considered an adaptation to the harsh conditions of the end of the Permian. Elginia has a number of spikes protruding from its skull, the largest pair rising from the sides at … Read more