In Depth Aphrosaurus seems to have been a middle sized lightweight elasmosaurid plesiosaur. Elasmosaurid plesiosaurs (those similar to Elasmosaurus) are known for having proportionately long legs, and like with others, half of the total length of Aphrosaurus was neck. This neck was one of the primary feeding adaptations that would have allowed it to reach … Read more
In Depth Protarchaeopteryx was so named because of a superficial similarity to the genus Archaeopteryx. However today, Protarchaeopteryx is seen as a very primitive member of the Oviraptosauria, and one that bears a strong resemblance to the genus Incisivosaurus. Protarchaeopteryx was a small dinosaur, and one that probably specialised in hunting small animals like lizards … Read more
In Depth Rileyasuchus was originally named as Rileyia, but was changed to Rileyasuchus when it was realised that Rileyia had been used to name a genus of hymenopteran insect. Aside from this Rileyasuchus has had a problematic taxonomic history with speculation that fossils of the dinosaur Thecodontosaurus may be mixed in with it. In addition … Read more
In Depth Triunfosaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in South America during the early Cretaceous. Described only from an ischium and tail vertebra, Triunfosaurus was originally described as a titanosaur. Further Reading - A new basal titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil. - Journal of South American Earth Sciences … Read more
In Depth A little known theropod dinosaur from China, a 2010 study by Benson et al found Chuandongocoelurus to probably be related to the more complete Monolophosaurus. The partial remains of Chuandongocoelurus are thought to be from a juvenile/subadult individual, and coupled with the overall incomplete nature of them, it is impossible to establish an … Read more
In Depth Although named from very little fossil remains, Aerotitan is thought to be one of the azdarchid pterosaurs, and if correct, this would make Aerotitan the first known confirmed azdarchid pterosaur from South America. The azdarchid pterosaurs are a special group noted for having proportionately long necks supported by lengthened cervical (neck) vertebrae. Some … Read more
In Depth Overoraptor is a genus of paravian theropod dinosaur that lived in South America during the late Cretaceous. Further reading - New theropod dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia sheds light on the paravian radiation in Gondwana. - The Science of Nature. 107 (3): Article number 24. - Mat�as J. Motta, Federico L. … Read more
In Depth As of the time of writing dinosaur genera are not particularly well known from Thailand, even though there does seem to be substantial fossil deposits in certain areas of the country. From here we have the discovery of Kinnareemimus, significant in that it may be one of and possibly the oldest ornithomimosaur discovered. … Read more
In Depth Notatesseraeraptor is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived in Europe during the late Triassic. Notatesseraeraptor has had several parts described in three Master’s thesis, but was not formally named as a distinct genus until 2019. Further Reading - The Axial and Appendicular Morphology of the First Theropod Skeleton (Saurischia, Dinosauria) of Switzerland … Read more
In Depth Further Reading Further reading - A Miocene hyperdiverse crocodylian community reveals peculiar trophic dynamics in proto-Amazonian mega-wetlands. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B 282:20142490. - R. Salas-Gismondi, J. J. Flynn, P. Baby, J. V. Tejada-Lara, F. P. Wesselingh & P.-O. Antoine - 2015.