In Depth Because the holotype specimen of Morenosaurus is incomplete, it is hard to establish a precise classification of his plesiosaur, especially since the skull is unknown. It is probable however that Morenosaurus is an elasmosaurid (similar to Elasmosaurus) since these were the dominant kinds of plesiosaurs during the late Cretaceous. Additionally if this is … Read more
In Depth The chunky body and wide mouth of Beelzebufo meant that this prehistoric frog could have gulped down almost any small lizard or mammal that was unfortunate to come across it. Beelzebufo likely would have hunted on dry land and been a ‘sit and wait’ predator. This would involve Beelzebufo relying upon its colouration … Read more
In Depth Avaceratops was a relatively small ceratopsian dinosaur from the late Cretaceous of North America. What makes its classification difficult however is the fact that its neck frill is short and lacks any fenestrae (openings), and with the exception of others like Triceratops, ceratopsians can usually be divided into either centrosaurine or chasmosaurine groups, … Read more
In Depth The naming of Angolatitan was a very important discovery for the country of Angola because it was the first genus of dinosaur known to have come from there. Angolatitan is so far known only from a partial right fore limb, so details like size or a specific dietary preference beyond just plants are … Read more
In Depth A very interesting discovery, Wendiceratops has been identified as one of the oldest centrosaurine ceratopsian dinosaurs so far discovered. At the time of writing only Xenoceratops and Diabloceratops are known to have been older. So far much of what we know about Wendiceratops has been pieced together by fragmentary and partial remains, but … Read more
In Depth For much of the early part of its scientific life the pterosaur Arambourgiania was known as Titanopteryx, however in 1987 Lev Nesov was made aware that the genus name was already being used by a fly. Under ICZN rules, no two animals may share the same genus name. Nesov renamed the specimen Arambourgiania … Read more
In Depth Though only known from partial remains, Shixinggia seems to have been a fairly advanced oviraptorid. Asian oviraptosaurs seem to have been most common in Mongolia, but Shixinggia represents one of the few known to have been living within what are now the borders of China. The first oviraptosaur known to have lived within … Read more
In Depth Mystacodon is a genus of primitive whale that lived in waters around South America during the Eocene. Mystacodon is a transitional form, somewhere between the predatory toothed whale ancestors and later filter feeding baleen whales. Mystacodon however is thought to have been a suction feeder. This is where the whale would open its … Read more
In Depth Cearachelys is a genus of side-necked turtle that lived in South America during the early stages of the late Cretaceous. Further Reading - Cearachelys, a new side-necked turtle (Pelomedusoides: Bothremydidae) from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil. - American Museum Novitates 3319:1-20. - E. S. Gaffney, D. de Almeida Campos & R. Hirayama - … Read more
In Depth Gasparinisuchus is a genus of peirosaurid notosuchian that is known to have lived in South America during the late Cretaceous. Care should be taken not to confuse Gasparinisuchus with the similarly named Gasparinisaura. Further Reading – A new peirosaurid from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina: Implications for specimens referred to Peirosaurus torminni Price … Read more