In Depth Kelyophis is a genus of snake that lived in Madagascar during the Late Cretaceous. Further Reading - A Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) snake assemblage from the Maevarano Formation, Mahajanga Basin, Madagascar. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30 (1): 109–138. - T. C. Laduke, D. W. Krause, J. D. Scanlon & N. J. Kley - … Read more
In Depth Since the genus was named in 2003, there has been some speculation that Lamaceratops may in fact be based upon fossils referable to Bagaceratops. This is because there is very little difference between known fossils of Bagaceratops and the holotype fossils for Lamaceratops, though Lamaceratops may also represent a species of Bagaceratops not … Read more
In Depth The future for Puntanipterus is uncertain and the reason for this goes back to its early discovery. When described, Puntanipterus was noted as being similar to the filter feeding pterosaur Pterodaustro save for differences in the ankles and tibia. What must be remembered however is that pterosaur fossils, including those of Pterodaustro are … Read more
In Depth The larger an animal becomes in life, the more likely it is that it will only be represented by a few bones, and this is because the body is usually scattered by the actions of scavengers as well as environmental factors such as floods and wind storms long before the body can be … Read more
In Depth A smaller relative of the fearsome Xiphactinus, Thrissops would have still been a fearsome predator of smaller fish. The tail is deeply forked with the upper and lower lobes roughly equal in proportion to one another, a clear sign that the tail was capable of tremendous bursts of speed. It’s possible that Thrissops … Read more
In Depth Towards the end of the Triassic a group of reptiles evolved wings so that they could fly after insects in the air, becoming the reptiles now known to us as pterosaurs. Over one hundred and sixty million years later and only around thirteen million years after the pterosaurs became extinct at the end … Read more
In Depth Nemegtomaia was originally named Nemegtia in 2004, but it was soon realised that this name had already been used to name another animal. So in 2005 the describers renamed it Nemegtomaia to avoid confusion. Nemegtomaia is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in what is now Mongolia during the late Cretaceous. At … Read more
In Depth Jakapil is an interesting little dinosaur as it may represent not only a basal thyreophoran dinosaur, but possibly also for the time of its description, an unknown kind. Unfortunately the remains of the holotype individual are largely incomplete, but they do at least give us a tantalising glimpse at the jaw structure, general … Read more
In Depth Nankangia is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in China during the late Cretaceous. Although only known from partial remains, Nankangia has been speculated to have been more inclined to eating plants because the jaw symphysis is not downturned. However the exact diet for Nankangia, like with many other oviraptorid genera is … Read more
In Depth Morrosaurus is a genus of iguanodontian dinosaur that lived in Antarctica during the late Cretaceous. Further Reading - A new ornithopod (Dinosauria, Ornithischia) from the Upper Cretaceous of Antarctica and its palaeobiogeographical implications. Cretaceous Research 57:311-324. - S. Rozadilla, F. L. Agnolin, F. E. Novas, A. M. Aranciaga Rolando, M. J. Motta, J. … Read more