In Depth Afropithecus is one of the better known primates of Miocene era Africa and the current fossils for this primate suggest that it was similar to the even more numerous Proconsul. However despite a body similarity to Proconsul, Afropithecus is thought to have had a head more like Aegyptopithecus (which may actually be Propliopithecus) … Read more
In Depth As with a lot of European pterosaurs the genus Altmuehlopterus has a long and convoluted history. The fossil specimen was originally named under Ornithocephalus, but this would later be regarded as an obsolete name for Pterodactylus. It was also named as belonging to Diopecephalus, and finally ending up as a second species of … Read more
In Depth First described as a species of Saurolophus in 2013, the species was re-described as a distinct genus, Augustynolophus only a year later. Not much can be said about Augustynolophus, though we do know that it was among the last hadrosaurid genera to live, and may have been around to see the asteroid strike … Read more
In Depth Anatosuchus was a small terrestrial crocodile with had a very specialised skull morphology, the result of which has been the nick name ‘Duck croc’. The jaws resemble the bill of a duck with a single pointed protrusion extending from the front of the snout. It has been proposed that this protuberance was used … Read more
In Depth Agorophius seems to have been one of the early toothed whales of the Odontoceti, but unfortunately the holotype remains of this genus have now been lost. This makes further study of the genus with more modern methods and techniques impossible until either the holotypes are found or new fossils are recovered from the … Read more
In Depth Albicetus is a genus of whale that lived in Pacific Ocean during the Miocene. Further Reading - A fossil physeteroid cetacean from Santa Barbara County California. - Proceedings of the United States National Museum 66(27):1-8. - R. Kellogg - 1925. - Albicetus oxymycterus, a New Generic Name and Redescription of a Basal Physeteroid … Read more
In Depth Abyssosaurus is a genus of plesiosaur that lived in Russia during the Early Cretaceous. At the time of its description Abyssosaurus was identified as a link between Late Jurassic forms such as Tatenectes and Kimmerosaurus, and Late Cretaceous forms such as Aristonectes and Kaiwhekea. A slightly later study in 2013 by Benson & … Read more
In Depth Araripesaurus appears to be a dubious entry amongst pterosaurs because of the lack of distinguishing features. Even though it has been considered to be Santanadactylus, the same lack of distinguishing features mean that Araripesaurus cannot be reassigned to a different genus with certainty. Further material that was to be attributed to Araripesaurus has … Read more
In Depth Further Reading – Pleistocene remains of the lion-like cat (Panthera atrox) from the Yukon Territory and northern Alaska – Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 6(5) C. R. Harrington – 1969. – Mandibular and dental abnormalities of two Pleistocene American lions (Panthera leo atrox) from Yukon Territory. – B. F. Beebe & T. J. … Read more
In Depth Anomoiodon was a tiny little parareptile that lived in Germany in the early Triassic. Another genus of parareptile named Kapes was once considered to be a synonym of Anomoiodon, but rediscovery of fossils and new study have now re-confirmed them to be separate genera. There are however considered to be very closely related … Read more