In Depth Xuanhuaceratops represents the early ceratopsian form that was a small probably bipedal dinosaur that had developed the sharp cropping beak as well as the rudimentary beginnnings of the neck frill that would become so characteristic of the ceratopsians. Because of its small size Xuanhuaceratops probably had to rely upon speed and agility to … Read more
In Depth Patagotitan is a genus of titanosaurian dinosaur that lived in South America towards the end of the Early Cretaceous. Titanosaurs are often known by only a handful of fossils, but Patagotitan has proved to be an exception. At the time of writing Patagotitan is known from the partial post cranial remains of at … Read more
In Depth First named as a species of Pareiasaurus in 1985 by D. C. F. Araujo, from fossils recovered from the Rio do Rasto Formation in Brazil, the species was renamed as a distinct genus, Provelosaurus, in 1997. This decision was based upon the observation that Provelosaurus shows greater similarities to South African pareisaurs such … Read more
In Depth Bolong is a genus of hadrosauroid dinosaur that lived in what is now China during the Early Cretaceous. The holotype individual is known from a partial skull and jaws, but a second specimen of a juvenile shows more of the post cranial skeleton. Further Reading – Bolong yixianensis gen. et sp. nov.: A … Read more
In Depth Ziapelta is a genus of ankylosaurid dinosaur that lived in what is now the USA during the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. At the time of the genus description Ziapelta is only known from a single partial skull and some osteoderms, the bony plates that grew within the skin as a form … Read more
In Depth While loricatan paracrocodylomorphs are fairly well known from the Santa maria Formation, Dagasuchus is the first rauisuchian genus known from the Santacruzodon assemblage zone, something which has enabled this genus to fill an evolutionary gap. So far Dagasuchus is only known from a partial hip which make reconstructions fairly difficult. However since the … Read more
In Depth The discovery of Pterodaustro was a fantastic find, as not only was it the first pterosaur to be discovered in South America, here was a pterosaur that filtered for food in a similar manner to a modern day flamingo. This is evidenced by the strongly upwards curing beak that instead of having more … Read more
In Depth A close relative of the better known ceratopsian dinosaur Leptoceratops, Prenoceratops can be told apart by the skull which has a greater slope to the skull than that seen in Leptoceratops. Further Reading - Description of Prenoceratops pieganensis gen et sp. nov. (Dinosauria: Neoceratopsia) from the Two Medicine Formation of Montana. - Journal … Read more
In Depth There is little doubt that Paralititan sits comfortably amongst some of the biggest sauropod dinosaurs that are known to us. Though the skeleton of Paralititan is largely incomplete, the humerus (upper ‘arm’ bone) is known to have reached a length of one hundred and sixty-nine centimetres long, something that at the time of … Read more
In Depth Yutyrannus is a good example of a tyrannosaur that had feathers, although it is not the first or only known tyrannosaur to have had feathers like some news reports claimed at the time of its discovery. The first tyrannosaur to be feathered was actually Dilong which was named in 2004 and is … Read more