In Depth Qianosuchus is a poposaurid rauisuchian that may have been semi-aquatic, similar to the genus Diandongosuchus in ecological niche. Part of this interpretation comes from the fact that the Qianosuchus holotype was discovered in a deposit that was formed from what seems to have been a lagoon. Further Reading - An unusual archosaurian from … Read more
In Depth Panphagia has been popularly perceived to have been an omnivore, an analysis based upon examination of the teeth. This is mainly because the teeth towards the rear of the mouth are broader and leaf shaped, better suited for slicing through plant material. The teeth at the front however are still better for processing … Read more
In Depth Calanguban is a genus of lizard that lived in Brazil during the early Cretaceous. Further Reading - A new Early Cretaceous lizard species from Brazil, and the phylogenetic position of the oldest known South American squamates. - Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 13 (7): 601. - Tiago R. Sim�es, Michael W. Caldwell & Alexander … Read more
In Depth Along with Yinlong, Stenopelix appears to have been one of the earliest members of the ceratopsian group of dinosaur. Unfortunately because the skull was not preserved no one knows exactly how far along the beak and neck frill had developed, in fact the identification of Stenopelix as a ceratopsian dinosaur was based upon … Read more
In Depth Leyesaurus is a genus of small sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived in South America around the early Jurassic. Predatory threats to Leyesaurus would have mostly come from theropod dinosaurs. Further Reading - A new basal sauropodomorph (Dinosauria: Saurischia) from Quebrada del Barro Formation (Marayes-El Carrizal Basin), Northwestern Argentina. - PLoS ONE 6(11):e26964:1-19. - C. … Read more
In Depth Hypsognathus is regarded as one of the last of the procolophonids, a group of parareptiles that became common during the Permian and Triassic periods. The earliest members of this group are believed to have been insectivores due to the form of their teeth. The teeth of Hypsognathus however were quite different to those … Read more
In Depth The discovery of three Oryctodromeus individuals at the bottom of a two meter long burrow that was filled with sediment was proof that some dinosaurs had adapted to burrowing. There are several advantages to burrowing, including safer rearing of young, having a retreat to escape to from predators, to being more able to … Read more
In Depth The largest species of Captorhinus approaching eighty centimetres long is C. magnus, with other species around forty centimetres long. The other difference between the species is C. aguti which has more than one row of teeth. The arrangement of the teeth at the back of the mouth suggest that Captorhinus mashed plant leaves … Read more
Meiolania Fossil Map Interactive fossil Map of Meiolania, along with its chronological bar chart of fossil discoveries. In Depth When first described from fossil skulls, Meiolania was first thought to have been a lizard, hence the name which means ‘small roamer’. This is a reflection to the earlier description of Megalania (today known as Varanus … Read more
In Depth With a rib that is three meters long, Huanghetitan is thought to have had one of the deepest bodies of any known animal. This is but a hint of the size of this sauropod dinosaur which is considered to have been one of the largest sauropods (and by extension vertebrates) to ever walk … Read more