In Depth Mexichelys was originally described as a species of Euclastes, but was re-described to its own genus in 2010. Like relative genera, Mexichelys is thought to have been a durophagous carnivore of shelled organisms such as molluscs and crustaceans. Further Reading - Euclastes coahuilaensis sp. nov., a basal cheloniid turtle from the late Campanian … Read more
In Depth Before the description of Teinolophos in 1999, Steropodon was considered to be the earliest ancestor of the platypus. Comparison to mammals like the platypus has yielded body estimates of around forty to fifty centimetres long, something that would make Steropodon one of the larger known mammals of the early Cretaceous period. If Steropodon … Read more
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
In Depth Brachygnathosuchus is a problematic genus of crocodile because so far it is only known from a small portion of a lower jaw and possible osteoderm. A partial mandible that was moved from Dinoschus into Brachygnathosuchus was later moved again into Purussaurus. Further Reading – Brachygnathosuchus braziliensis, a new fossil crocodilian from Brazil. - … Read more
In Depth Eoalulavis was the first Mesozoic bird known to have had an alula, more commonly known as a bastard wing. The alula is a small extension to the anterior (front) edge of the wing that serves as an attachment point for a few additional small flight feathers. When extended, the alula both increased low … Read more
In Depth A kind of mosasaur known from North Africa, the species name of E. heterodontus means different-toothed and is in reference to the different kinds of teeth that are present in the jaws of known Eremiasaurus specimens. This is taken to indicate that Eremiasaurus may have been a generalist carnivore that was not especially … Read more
In Depth Lekaneleo is a genus of thylacoleonid marsupial that lived in Australia during the Miocene period. Lekaneleo is a relative of the better known Thylacoleo, and like Thylacoleo, Lekaneleo would have been a powerful predator. Further Reading - Priscileo roskellyae sp. nov. (Thylacoleonidae, Marsupialia) from the Oligocene-Miocene of Riversleigh, northwestern Queensland. - Memoirs of … Read more
In Depth Saltoposuchus was not like todays crocodiles, in fact it was more like a small theropod dinosaur. The hind legs were long which meant that fast running speeds were theoretically possible, though the fore limbs may have still served a weight bearing function, perhaps when at rest. The teeth in the mouth were small … Read more
In Depth Tropidostoma is a genus of dicynodont therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian. Further Reading - Researches on the Structure, Organisation, and Classification of the Fossil Reptilia. - VI. On the Anomodont Reptilia and Their Allies. - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B 180:215-296. - Harry Govier … Read more
In Depth Lophostropheus was initially assigned as a specimen of Halticosaurus until 1993 it was re-classified as a second species of Liliensternus, a genus that was also previously established as a species of Halticosaurus. A new study in 2007 however concluded that while the fossils were similar, they were different enough to be established as … Read more