In Depth There is a lot of confusion about the pliosaur genus Sinopliosaurus, all stemming from a misidentification of some spinosaurid dinosaur teeth as those belonging to a marine reptile. The first species of Sinopliosaurus, S. weiyuanensis was established by C. C. Young, and was established as a pliosaur. Then in 1975 a second species … Read more
In Depth Yuornis is a genus of enantiornithine bird that lived in China during the late Cretaceous. The skull of Yuornis is noted for being completely toothless. Further reading - A new, remarkably preserved, enantiornithine bird from the Upper Cretaceous Qiupa Formation of Henan (central China) and convergent evolution between enantiornithines and modern birds. - … Read more
In Depth Quaesitosaurus is only known from a partial skull of what appears to have been a diplodocid sauropod dinosaur, however it has also drawn similarity to Nemegtosaurus that is also from the same area and also only known from a skull. If true then Quaesitosaurus may also be connected Opisthocoelicaudia which is only known … Read more
In Depth Mesembriornis was a middle of the range ‘terror bird’ with regards to its size, but it was one of the last known to have lived. In overall build Mesembriornis was similar to other medium sized phorusrhacids such as Andalgalornis and may have also filled the same ecological niche as its earlier predecessor. Mesembriornis … Read more
In Depth Although based upon incomplete remains, Ceratonykus is known to have been one of the alvarezsaurs. Other alvarezsaurs from the same formation include Parvicursor and possibly Mononykus. Further Reading - Ceratonykus oculatus gen. et sp. nov., a new dinosaur (? Theropoda, Alvarezsauria) from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia. - Paleontological Journal 43(1):94-106. - V. … Read more
In Depth By the end of the Triassic, the temnospondyl amphibians had already been greatly reduced in number to what they were in the earlier Permian and Carboniferous. They were not all gone however, and some like Cyclotosaurus were without doubt flourishing. So far fossils of Cyclotosaurus have been found all the way from Greenland, … Read more
In Depth Babakotia was what is more commonly known as a sloth lemur. This is because unlike the lemurs that we know today, Babakotia had body proportions more like those of a sloth, something which has led to speculation that this lemur was also sloth like in its behaviour. The term sloth lemur is a … Read more
In Depth Although the last part of the name ‘suchus’ is ancient Greek for crocodile, Sulcusuchus was actually a plesiosaur, a member of the famous group of long necked marine reptiles of the Mesozoic. In more specific terms it is considered to be a polycotylid plesiosaur, with one of the more famous members of this … Read more
In Depth Although only known from incomplete skull and lower jaw material, Zhuchengtyrannus was still almost certainly one of the largest of the Asian tyrannosaurines. Also, even though the teeth of the holotype are not particularly well preserved, there are more as yet unidentified teeth that are known from that location that may yet prove … Read more
In Depth Sinornithosaurus was especially well preserved, and not only were the presence of feathers clearly revealed; they showed indications of having differing colours for different body areas. The feathers, while not exactly like those of modern birds, are still more advanced than in other species, including some of the later dromaeosaurids. This is significant … Read more