In Depth Bissektipelta was first named as a species of Amtosaurus in 2002, however a subsequent evaluation of that genus found the type species, A. magnus to be indeterminate and possibly be those of a hadrosaur and not an ankylosaur. As such, the braincase that represented the second species, A. archibaldi was moved to its … Read more
In Depth Pabwehshi is a genus of terrestrial crocodile that lived and hunted on dry land. At the time of writing, Pabwehshi is only known from the Pab Formation of Pakistan where fossils of Pabwehshi were laid down during the Maastrichtian stage of the Cretaceous. Pabwehshi is usually credited as being a member if the … Read more
In Depth Kwazulusaurus is a genus of dicynodont that lived in South Africa during the late Permian. Kwazulusaurus seems to be transitional in form, as even though many of the features of the genus are quite primitive, Kwazulusaurus does have some similar features as the more advanced Lystrosaurus. Further Reading - A new basal lystrosaurid … Read more
In Depth A relative of genera such as Eogyrinus, Pteroplax and Diplovertebron, Neopteroplax was a medium sized semi aquatic predator that lived in the USA during the Carboniferous. Neopteroplax would have hunted for fish and amphibians in the Carboniferous swamps of America that would have largely turned to coal deposits over the course of many … Read more
In Depth Hutegotherium is a genus of docodont mammal that lived in Russia during the Bathonian stage of the Jurassic. Further Reading - New docodontians from the Middle Jurassic of Siberia and reanalysis of docodonta interrelationships. - Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS 314 (2): 121–148. - A. A. Averianov, A. V. Lopatin, S. A. … Read more
In Depth Palaelodus is the type genus of the Palaelodidae, a sister group to the birds that we today know as flamingos. Though perceived to be flamingo-like, Palaelodus is also noted as being primitive in form to the point that it may have actually swum through the water instead of only wading through it. The … Read more
In Depth Fossils of Schleitheimia were originally recovered in the early 1950s by Emil Schutz, then in 1986 named as belonging to Plateosaurus. A subsequent study of the fossils in 2020 (Rauhut et al) found them different enough to warrant the creation of a new genus. The name Schleitheimia is derived from the name Schleitheim, … Read more
In Depth Kayentasuchus is a genus of small sphenosuchian crocodilomorph that lived in the south-west of the USA during the early Jurassic. Overall Kayentasuchus is noted for having a gracile build with slender limbs. The front of the skull is narrow with the lower jaw curved upwards, indicating that Kayentasuchus may have been quite specialised … Read more
In Depth The most noteworthy feature of Coelurosauravus are the dermal ossicles, creating thin strands of bone that extended from the flanks and supported a gliding wing. This may have provided a limited flight capability over short distances by jumping from a high point and steering itself by twisting towards a lower spot as it … Read more
In Depth Although known from very well preserved remains, there is still quite a bit of mystery surrounding Limusaurus. Study of the bones has revealed that it is a member of the Ceratosauria (the first one known from Asia), a group of theropods defined by the type genus Ceratosaurus. However the one specimen where the … Read more