In Depth Fossils of Smitanosaurus have in the past been attributed to Morosaurus and subsequently Camarasaurus, but a study in 2020 found them to represent a distinct genus. Instead of being a macronarian sauropod dinosaur like Camarasaurus, Smitanosaurus is instead thought to have been a dicraeosaurid sauropod dinosaur. Smitanosaurus is named after J. August Smith, … Read more
In Depth Rugops, meaning ‘wrinkle face’, is an interesting name for a carnivorous dinosaur. This name comes from the numerous impressions in the skull bone from large blood vessels that once ran across the bone surface leaving a wrinkled appearance. It is thought that these extra vessels were here to provide additional oxygenated blood to … Read more
In Depth Once referred to as Crocodilus affuvelensis, a 2008 review by Jeremy Martin and Eric Buffetaut saw it placed into a new genus as Massaliasuchus. Before this time the fossil material was thought to have possibly been further examples of Allodaposuchus, another late Cretaceous crocodile that has also been found in France. Further Reading … Read more
In Depth Xunmenglong is a genus of compsognathid dinosaur that lived in China during the early Cretaceous. Xunmenglong seems to have been a very small dinosaur, small even for a compsognathid. As such, Xunmenglong was probably a small predator, feeding upon insects and very small vertebrates. Further Reading - A new compsognathid theropod dinosaur from … Read more
In Depth An interesting little dinosaur, Dracoraptor was a small theropod dinosaur that roamed around what is now Wales during the early Jurassic. The holotype (first found) individual of Dracoraptor has been reconstructed at just over two meters in length, however, the holotype was a juvenile animal, and adults would have been larger. Dracoraptor was … Read more
In Depth Abydosaurus is the first early Cretaceous era sauropod from the USA to have an identifiable skull. This skull and other post cranial elements confirm its identity as a brachiosaurid sauropod, though one with unusually thin teeth for its kind. Remains of at least four individuals of Abydosaurus have been recovered and it seems … Read more
In Depth Discovered in 2009 and described in 2012, Eoabelisaurus was a ground breaking discovery in our understanding of the abelisaurid theropods. So far most abelisaurids are known from the later stages of the Cretaceous period, yet the holotype Eoabelisaurus has been confidently assigned to the early stages of the Mid Jurassic. Also at around … Read more
In Depth Polyptychodon has been considered to be a dubious genus of pliosaur by some considering that it is based upon only teeth and vertebrae. Despite this two species are recognised, The first and type species, being named in 1841 and based upon teeth and vertebrae from England and France that are Aptian in Age. … Read more
In Depth Texasetes was the first armoured nodosaurid dinosaur to be named from the Paw Paw Formation of Texas. However a year later a second genus of nodosaur called Pawpawsaurus was named, though only represented by a skull. There has now been suggestions that these two are the same genus, and if proven true, then … Read more
In Depth Huaxiagnathus is one of the larger members of the compsognathid group of dinosaurs, although it is smaller than the related Sinocalliopteryx which is also from the Yixian Formation. The fore limbs of Huaxiagnathus are proportionately larger and more developed than other related dinosaurs suggesting that they had a greater role in prey capture … Read more