In Depth Duriavenator was for a long time attributed to Megalosaurus, part of the ‘wastebasket taxon’ effect which saw Megalosaurus becoming a home for many fossils that actually represented similar yet different dinosaurs. Further Reading – A redescription of “Megalosaurus” hesperis (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Inferior Oolite (Bajocian, Middle Jurassic) of Dorset, United Kingdom. – … Read more
Lophostropheus: Research Database Reptilia (Theropoda) · Late Triassic (~210 MYA) · Europe — France, Luxembourg Research Note: Lophostropheus was a theropod dinosaur from the Late Triassic of Europe — significant for understanding early theropod evolution and the Triassic-Jurassic transition. Research Finding Status Grade Year Method Citation Impact Cuny & Galton 1993: Lophostropheus and … Read more
Utahraptor: Research Database Dinosauria (Theropoda) · Early Cretaceous (~130-125 MYA) · North America — USA (Utah) Research Note: Utahraptor was a large dromaeosaurid theropod from the Early Cretaceous of North America — one of the largest known raptor dinosaurs, and a key taxon for understanding theropod evolution in the Cretaceous of Laurasia. Research … Read more
In Depth In modern times Szechuanosaurus is widely regarded as a dubious genus because it has only been described from a collection of isolated teeth. Also, because these teeth do not really have any specifically characteristic features, it is highly unlikely that skeletal remains could be later attributed to these teeth (like what happened with … Read more
Elaphrosaurus: Research Database Ceratosauria (Theropoda) · Late Jurassic (~155–150 MYA) · Africa — Tanzania (Tendaguru Formation) Research Note: Elaphrosaurus was a ceratosaurian theropod from the Late Jurassic Tendaguru Formation of Tanzania. As a lightly built theropod, it provides important data on theropod diversity and ecological diversity in the Jurassic of Gondwana. Research Finding … Read more
In Depth Smaller velociraptorine dromaeosaurs seem to have been one of the most important types of dinosaur in Asia during the Late Cretaceous as evidenced by the ever growing number of remains and genera. Linheraptor was similar in form to most others such as Velociraptor and it may have lived and hunted in pretty much … Read more
Baurusuchus: Research Database Baurusuchidae (Mesoeucrocodylia) · Late Cretaceous (~90–83 MYA) · South America — Brazil (Bauru Basin, Uberaba Formation) Research Note: Baurusuchus was a baurusuchid mesoeucrocodylian from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil. As one of the few known terrestrial notosuchians — crocodile-line archosaurs that were fully adapted for life on land — it provides … Read more
In Depth Ojoraptorsaurus is a genus of oviraptosaur that lived in what is now New Mexico during the earlier stage of the Maastrichtian. Although only named from fossilised pubis bones, Ojoraptorsaurus has been identified as a caenagnathid oviraptosaur, making it a closer relative to genera such as Elmisaurus and Gigantoraptor. With the holotype fossils of … Read more
Sinraptor: Research Database Megalosauridae (Theropoda) · Late Jurassic (~160–155 MYA) · Asia — China (Xinjiang, Shishugou Formation) Research Note: Sinraptor was a megalosaurid theropod from the Late Jurassic Shishugou Formation of Xinjiang, China. As one of the few well-preserved theropod skeletons from the Jurassic of Asia, it provides critical data on theropod diversity, Gondwanan … Read more
Monolophosaurus: Research Database Avetheropoda (Theropoda) · Middle Jurassic (~170 MYA) · Asia — China (Shishugou Formation, Xinjiang) Research Note: Monolophosaurus was a medium-sized theropod from the Middle Jurassic of Xinjiang, China, distinguished by the single large crest on its skull — the feature that gives it its name meaning “single-crested lizard.” As one of … Read more