In Depth Zapalasaurus is another example of an early cretaceous era diplodocoid sauropod, a find significant in itself since many diplodocid genera are dated to the Late Jurassic. Further to its inclusion within the Diplodocoidea, Zapalasaurus has been included as a member of the Rebbachisauridae, a sub group of the Diplodocoidea that includes other Cretaceous … Read more
In Depth Pandoravenator is a genus of predatory dinosaur that lived in South America during the Late Jurassic. Further Reading - A theropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Ca�ad�n Calc�reo Formation of central Patagonia, and the evolution of the theropod tarsus. - Ameghiniana 54:506-538. - O. W. M. Rauhut & D. Pol - 2017.
In Depth Brachyceratops is regarded as a highly dubious genus of ceratopsian dinosaur that may represent the juvenile form of another already named genus, and indeed one specimen of Brachyceratops (USNM 14765, a sub adult referred to the original five juveniles) has already been moved to the Rubeosaurus genus. This would normally raise speculation that … Read more
In Depth When this genus was first discovered, only the posterior portion of an individual ankylosaur remained to be studied. It is thought the anterior half had been previously exposed by erosion and was now lost, though part of the skull and teeth were found. The rear half of the dinosaur, including the tail and … Read more
In Depth Carniadactylus was born out of the realisation that a pterosaur specimen that was attributed to Eudimorphodon actually represented a different genus. Aside from being smaller than Eudimorphodon, one of the main areas of difference is the proportionately longer legs of Carniadactylus. Since it has now been placed within the campylognathoididae, Carniadactylus is considered … Read more
In Depth Although very little fossil material has been found, Helioceratops has been identified as a basal (or primitive) form of ceratopsian dinosaur. This means that it is unlikely that Helioceratops sported the elaborate frill and horns of the larger quadrupedal ceratopsians that most people know. Although primitive, Helioceratops seems to have had a body … Read more
In Depth Lasasaurus was a genus of procolophonid parareptile (the type genus of the group being Procolophon) that live in Madagascar during the early Triassic. Further Reading - First procolophonid (Reptilia, Parareptilia) from the Lower Triassic of Madagascar - Comptes Rendus Palevol - J. Falconnet, M. Andriamihaja, �. L�ng & J. -S. B. Steyer - … Read more
In Depth Dilophosaurus is a very distinctive dinosaur that is instantly recognisable by the two crests that are on top of its neck. It must be remembered however that Dilophosaurus never had a neck frill or spat venom, as was depicted in the 1993 film Jurassic Park. Those were the creations of artistic licence, not … Read more
In Depth Like Polacanthus, Gastonia was a low browsing armoured dinosaur, but unlike Polacanthus however it is very well preserved. In fact Gastonia is the best preserved member of its group and this has allowed for what are considered more accurate reconstructions of other lesser known species. It’s quite possible that one of the main … Read more
In Depth Steneosaurus is a genus of teleosaurid crocodile that lived during the late Jurassic of Europe. As a genus Steneosaurus once had a great many species attributed to the genus, but over the years this was a result of what is known as the wastebasket taxon effect This is where a genus is based … Read more