In Depth The holotype fossils of Langstonia were first recovered from Colombia in 1945, but they were not described until twenty years later when Wann Langston Jr. described them as a species of the genus Sebecus. For almost fifty years afterward various other fossils were tentatively placed with them and moved about until finally in … Read more
In Depth Clevosaurus is a genus of small lepidosaurian lizard that as a genus had a near global dsitribution during the Triassic and early Jurassic. Further Reading – A new Triassic rhynchocephalian from Gloucestershire. Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Zoology, Botany, and Geology 4:591-594. – W. E. Swinton – 1939. – The Osteology and … Read more
In Depth Dromaeosauroides is what is called a ‘tooth taxon’ as so far this dinosaur only has fossil teeth attributed to it. These teeth seem to come from a dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur, and this is reason why for the name which means Dromaeosaurus-like. Comparison of these teeth to those of other dromaeosaurids suggests that Dromaeosauroides … Read more
In Depth Brachyhyops was an early entelodont that roamed across North America long before the emergence of large entelodonts such as Daeodon. There is some confusion about Brachyhyops however regarding another genus called Eoentelodon from Asia. In 2004 Eoentelodon was found to the same genus as Brachyhyops in a study by Lucas and Emry, however … Read more
In Depth Fossils pertaining to Tatenectes were originally assigned as a species of Cimoliasaurus (C. laramiensis) by W. C. Knight in 1900. Then in 1912 they were moved over to Tricliedus (as T. laramiensis) by Mehl. Then in 2003 fossils pertaining to this species were established as a new genus by O’Keefe and Wahl. However … Read more
In Depth Meherrinia is an extinct genus of river dolphin that lived in the United States during the late Miocene. Study of the holotype remains has revealed that Meherrinia may be an example of a river dolphin that actually inhabited a marine environment, living in salt water as opposed to fresh water. Further Reading - … Read more
In Depth Venenosaurus, meaning ‘poison lizard’ acquired its name from being discovered in the Poison Strip Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation, while the type species, V. dicrocei, is in honour of Tony DiCroce, the person who first discovered the remains. Other sauropod dinosaurs from the Cedar Mountain Formation, albeit from different Members, include Abydosaurus, … Read more
In Depth As a primitive Eocene era horse Orohippus is thought to have primarily been a browser, which means it ate leaves of plants rather than grazing grass. However the teeth are also more suited for grinding rather than slicing which suggests a specialisation in eating tougher kinds of vegetation. Orohippus is thought to … Read more
In Depth Although only described from a skull Zarafasaura was one of the last surviving elasmosaurid plesiosaurs active around North Africa, a region that in the past has yielded very little in the way of plesiosaur remains. Part of this problem is Africa’s harsh climate that can quickly erode and damage exposed fossils. The discovery … Read more
In Depth With a tough hide and powerful jaws, the rauisuchian genus Postosuchus was one of the apex predators of its time. First discovered in the US state of Texas, Postsuchus had a wide distribution that stretched all the way to the Eastern seaboard. The head was deep with many fenestrae, adaptations that point towards … Read more