In Depth While superficially similar to Tanystropheus, Dinocephalosaurus appears to be more suited to aquatic hunting. Key evidence for this is the fact that the legs were not as well developed as the other protorosaurs that were land dwelling creatures. The eyes on the skull point upward suggesting that Dinocephalosaurus approached its prey from below … Read more
In Depth In terms of size, Anchiornis was a very small dinosaur indeed, though this is not the claim to fame for the genus. Anchiornis is known to have been feathered and one specimen is so well preserved that palaeontologists have been able to determine what colour and pattern these feathers were in life. Anchiornis … Read more
In Depth Hainosaurus is usually considered to be one of the largest known mosasaurs; however its actual size is a subject of on-going study. Early length estimates placed Hainosaurus at seventeen meters, while later study towards the end of the twentieth century revised this down to fifteen. A Hainosaurus specimen from Sweden that was described … Read more
In Depth Adasaurus is a genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous. Like with its relatives, Adasaurus was a hunter of other animals, quite possibly including other dinosaurs. The primary killing weapons for Adasaurus would have been the two enlarged sickle claws on its feet, which may have been used … Read more
In Depth Gladocephaloideus was a very exciting discovery as it was the first gallodactylid pterosaur to be discovered in Asia. As such Gladocephaloideus is thought to be related to Cycnorhamphus which itself is known from Germany. The jaws of Gladocephaloideus are filled with numerous small and thin teeth which were probably used to filter invertebrates … Read more
In Depth Out of all the creodonts Machaeroides is one of the most unique since it possess enlarged canine teeth similar to the sabre teeth that are commonly associated with the sabre-toothed cats of the Pliocene/Pleistocene eras. The presence of Machaeroides in North America is a clear indication that the creodonts were adapting to fulfil … Read more
In Depth Changmiania is a genus of small ornithopod dinosaur that lived in Asia during the early Cretaceous. The genus was described in 2020 upon the description of two individuals whose level of preservation can only be described as exceptional. The describers speculated that these individuals may have been buried alive in their own burrows, … Read more
In Depth Further Reading – Temporal variation in tooth fracture among Rancho La Brea dire wolves. – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22 (2): 423. – W. J. Binder, E. N. Thompson & B. Van Valkenburgh – 2002. – Sexual dimorphism, social behavior, and intrasexual competition in large Pleistocene carnivorans. – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22: … Read more
In Depth Known mostly from skulls, Prenocephale seems to have been a fairly large pachycephalosaur that lived in what is now Mongolia. The snout of Prenocephale is narrower than that of many other pachycephalosaur genera, suggesting that it was more of a selective browser. While Prenocephale is considered to be a valid genus, two others … Read more
In Depth Invictarx is a genus of nodosaurid dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous. Fossils so far associated with Invictarx are partial bones and osteoderms (bony plates of the skin that would have served as armour), so details as to a precise size are elusive. But the size of these remains … Read more