In Depth Although still often regarded as a valid genus, Indosuchus is considered by some to be a nomen dubium. This is because in 1933 Charles Matley and Friedrich von Huene not only named Indosuchus, but also Indosaurus and Compsosuchus, also from partial remains. Many palaeontologists consider these three genera to possibly be the same … Read more
In Depth The taxonomic history of Erectopus is a little muddled, but to begin with Erectopus was named as a species of Megalosaurus, M. superbus. This was in 1882 when Henri-�mile Sauvage added fossil remains to a private collection owned by Louis Pierson that had first been described in 1875 by Charles Barrois. Then when … Read more
In Depth Like with Rapator and Ozraptor, Kakuru has been named from a single bone. Also like with Raptor, the type specimen of Kakuru has been turned to opal. The exact classification of Kakuru has been hard to establish because of the lack of identifiable remains. What can be said is that Kakuru was likely … Read more
In Depth In terms of size Marshosaurus was a middle of the range theropod but one that seems built for strength. Aside from the fairly robust skull, the short but thick humerus of the arms indicates that Marshosaurus was adapted for holding onto and physically subduing its prey. A right ilium (hip bone) of Marshosaurus … Read more
In Depth Xiyunykus is a genus of alvarezsaurid dinosaur that lived in China during the early Cretaceous. In terms of alvarezsaur evolution, Xiyunykus shows an intermediate development between primitive ancestors and more developed descendents. Care should be taken not to confuse the Xiyunykus with the similarly named alvarezsaur Xixianykus. Further Reading - Two early Cretaceous … Read more
In Depth A relative of the famous Tyrannosaurus, Dynamoterror lived further south in what is now the New Mexico area of the USA. Described after a pain staking process of re-combined the partial remains of the holotype, Dynamoterror was revealed to have been a medium/large nine meter long predatory dinosaur. This is smaller than the … Read more
In Depth Mirischia is a genus of compsognathid dinosaur that lived in what is now Brazil during the early Cretaceous. Mirischia means ‘wonderful ischia’, and this dinosaur acquired this name because the two ischia (bones of the pelvis) show an oval foramen (opening) in the left bone, and a notch in the same position on … Read more
In Depth Hailing from China’s world famous Yixian Formation, Sinovenator was a fairly small genus of troodontid dinosaur. Due to the small size, Sinovenator is perceived to have been a predator of smaller animals such as lizards and mammals. Further Reading - A basal troodontid from the Early Cretaceous of China. - Nature 415:780-784. - … Read more
In Depth Given that compsognathids usually grow to just over one meter in length, Sinocalliopteryx is the veritable giant of the group being even larger than others such as Huaxiagnathus. This large size meant that Sinocalliopteryx was not satisfied with the small lizards and mammals usually associated with their smaller kin, and is a notion … Read more
In Depth Phuwiangvenator is a genus of megaraptoran dinosaur that hunted in what is now Thailand during the Early Cretaceous. Phuwiangvenator was named alongside another theropod dinosaur called Vayuraptor, also present in the Sao Khua Formation. Care should be taken not to confuse Phuwiangvenator with Phuwiangosaurus, a titanosaurian dinosaur known from the same formation as … Read more