In Depth Named in 2007, Mahakala has been widely accepted as one of the most primitive formed dromaeosaurids so far discovered. Key to this idea is the observation that the third metatarsal is not compressed, whereas in more advanced dromaeosaurids and troodonts it is. However another fact to consider is that Mahakala lived during the … Read more
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 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 The history of Piveteausaurus is one that is littered with comparisons to other theropod genera. The braincase that is the holotype fossil of Piveteausaurus was first described in 1923 by Jean Piveteau. Fossils of other dinosaurs had been discovered in the same region as this braincase all the way back to 1808 when … Read more
In Depth Like so many early discovered dinosaurs Thecodontosaurus had more fossils assigned to it than it really warranted. This has led to a re-evaluation of the attributed material, and like so many other studies, has resulted in the reduction of total species to the point that only Thecodontosaurus antiquus is now universally recognised by … Read more
In Depth Berberosaurus will catch the eye of anyone interested in theropod dinosaurs because the genus may represent the oldest ceratosaur, though not everyone is in agreement. The original description of Berberosaurus came to the conclusion that Berberosaurus was an abelisauroid that was more advanced than genera such as Elaphrosaurus and Spinostropheus, though more primitive … Read more
In Depth Vallibonavenatrix is a genus of spinosaurid dinosaur that lived in Spain during the early Cretaceous. As a spinosaurid, Vallibonavenatrix is expected to have been a predatory dinosaur, primarily hunting for aquatic creatures in the water systems of the time. Further Reading - A new spinosaurid theropod (Dinosauria: Megalosauroidea) from the late Barremian of … Read more
In Depth Parahongshanornis is a genus of primitive bird that lived in China during the early Cretaceous. The genus is noted for its similarity to another genus called Hongshanornis, hence the name Parahongshanornis which can be translated to English as ‘near Hongshanornis’. Further Reading - A new ornithurine bird (Hongshanornithidae) from the Jiufotang Formation of … Read more
In Depth Cetiosauriscus is often confused with the similarly named Cetiosaurus, and this is no accident. The name Cetiosauriscus means ‘whale-lizard-like’, a reference to Cetiosaurus which itself means ‘whale-lizard’, so when Friedrich von Huene named the genus in 1927, he was actually saying that Cetiosauriscus was similar to Cetiosaurus. When the genus was first named … Read more