In Depth Ganzhousaurus is an oviraptorid dinosaur that displays a mix of primitive and advanced features which suggests that it is transitory in form between primitive oviraptorids that were around earlier in the Cretaceous, and more advanced ones alive later in the Cretaceous. Though since the fossils for Ganzhousaurus are from a Maastrichtian era deposit, … Read more
In Depth The history of Sinosaurus as a dinosaur taxon goes all the way back to 1948 when the genus was first formally described. However this description was based upon very partial remains something that meant the genus fell by the wayside in popularity stakes, with some palaeontologists even treating the Sinosaurus genus as a … Read more
In Depth Prognathodon was a late mosasaur that showed a trend towards a different kind of predation that saw it living like the much earlier basal placodont reptiles of the Triassic such as Placodus. This means that Prognathodon specialised in eating tough shelled prey items like shellfish, ammonites and turtles. The diet of Prognathodon was … Read more
In Depth Although only a little dinosaur, the taxonomic history of Coelurus can be confusing to say the least. The first small theropod dinosaur from the famous Morrison Formation to be named, in the past the genus Coelurus has crossed paths with other small Morrison formation theropods such as Ornitholestes and Tanycolagreus. In addition to … Read more
In Depth Tastavinsaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in Spain during the early Cretaceous. Further Reading - A new sauropod: Tastavinsaurus sanzi gen. et sp. nov. from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) of Spain. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28 (3): 712–731.- J. I. Canudo, R. Royo-Torres, & G. Cuenca-Besc�s - 2008.
In Depth Serradraco is a genus of pterosaur that lived during the early Cretaceous. Further Reading - A new pterosaur specimen from the Upper Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation (Cretaceous, Valanginian) of southern England and a review of Lonchodectes sagittirostris (Owen 1874). - Geological Society, London, Special Publications: SP455.5. - S. Rigal, D. M. Martill & … Read more
In Depth Machairasaurus is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in China during the late Cretaceous. Machairasaurus was so named from the claws on its fingers which are curved like scimitar swords. It is speculated that these claws may have allowed Machairasaurus to pull and manipulate plant branches or possibly even dig out roots. … Read more
In Depth Europatitan was a very large somphospondylan sauropod dinosaur that lived in Spain during the early Cretaceous. The type species name E. eastwoodi was inspired by the actor Clint Eastwood. Further Reading - Europatitan eastwoodi, a new sauropod from the lower Cretaceous of Iberia in the initial radiation of somphospondylans in Laurasia. - PeerJ … Read more
In Depth Although named from only relatively few bones, the fossil remains of Vectidraco are still enough to clearly identify it as a new distinct genus from other known pterosaur genera. The fossils of Vectidraco also show that in life the bones were pneumatised, a weight saving adaptation which meant that the bones of the … Read more
In Depth Acuetzpalin is a genus of ichthyosaur that lived in waters around what is now central America during the late Jurassic. Further Reading - Acuetzpalin carranzai gen et sp. nov. A new ophthalmosauridae (Ichthyosauria) from the Upper Jurassic of Durango, North Mexico. - Journal of South American Earth Sciences. - J. I. Barrientos-Lara, J. … Read more