In Depth A possible relative of Protorosaurus, Czatkowiella was a quadrupedal archosauromorph reptile with a proportionately long neck for its body. The genus name Czatkowiella is named after the Czatkowice assemblage, while the type species, C. harae, is in honour of Ewa Hara who prepared the fossil for study. Further Reading – A long−necked archosauromorph … Read more
In Depth Once considered a transitional form between archosaurs and lizards, palaeontologists are no longer as certain as they once were as to exactly how Prolacerta were related to these groups. One key observation is that the teeth are rooted deep and fused to the bones, and not loosely implanted like the teeth of known … Read more
In Depth Macrocnemus is a genus of extinct archosauromorph that seems to have had a wide distribution during the Triassic given that fossils of the genus are known from central Europe and China. Further Reading - Macrocnemus nicht Macrochemus. Centralblatt fur Mineralogie. - Geologic und Palaeontologie; Stuttgart. 1931 Abt B 655–656. - F. Nopcsa - … Read more
In Depth There is some confusion regarding Geosaurus reconstructions as there were once both long and short snouted forms of the genus. One former species of Geosaurus in particular known as G. suevicus was an almost complete specimen which was commonly used as a base for the majority of early Geosaurus reconstructions. Later analysis in … Read more
In Depth Belodon is an often quoted yet surprisingly obscure genus of phytosaurs. The phytosaurs were physically and presumably ecologically similar to crocodiles, and Belodon seems to have grown to a size approaching smaller crocodiles that we know today. However, not all are convinced about the validity of Belodon, with some palaeontologists regarding it as … Read more
In Depth Although known from other locations, Protorosaurus fossils are most common in Germany. This might suggest that Protorosaurus were more numerous there during the Permian, however it might also suggest that the conditions in Germany during the Permian were better for the fossilisation process to begin, therefore Germany might not have had a higher … Read more
In Depth Antarctanax is a genus of archosauromorph reptile that lived in Antarctica during the early Triassic. Further Reading - A novel archosauromorph from Antarctica and an updated review of a high-latitude vertebrate assemblage in the wake of the end-Permian mass extinction. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 38 (6): e1536664. - Brandon R. Peecook, Roger … Read more
In Depth Technosaurus is in simple terms a mess. Described in 1984 by Sankar Chatterjee from an astralgus (ankle bone), a dorsal (back) vertebrae, two lower jaws and a premaxilla, Techonosaurus was heralded as the earliest ornithischian (bird hipped) dinosaur of the time. Then in 1991another palaeontologist named Paul Sereno re-examined the fossils, a study … Read more
In Depth Often known in the media as either ‘Dog Croc’ or ‘Rat Croc’, Araripesuchus is one of the better known terrestrial crocodiles. Study of the dentition reveals that Araripesuchus may have been a generalist hunter. This is indicated by sharp conical teeth towards the front of the mouth, with more rounded sturdier teeth towards … Read more
In Depth Miadanasuchus was originally described as a species of Trematochampsa back in 1979, but re-identified as its own genus in 2009. Miadanasuchus may have been one of the key predators of the Maevarano Formation. Other predatory crocodiles from the same formation include Mahajangasuchus and Araripesuchus. Further Reading - New Material of “Trematochampsa” Oblita (Crocodyliformes,Trematochampsidae) … Read more