In Depth Qiaowanlong was first thought to be an Asian representative of the world famous Brachiosaurus, but has since been found to be similar to other Asian sauropods like Euhelopus. Further Reading – The first well-preserved Early Cretaceous brachiosaurid dinosaur in Asia. – Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. – H.-L. You & … Read more
In Depth Himalayacetus is one of if not the oldest archaeocetid whale currently known to us. Unfortunately at the time of writing the only part of this primitive whale that we have is a partial jaw, but this is still enough to identify Himalayacetus as a relative of the better known Ambulocetus. Himalayacetus should not … Read more
In Depth Lanthanostegus is a genus of synapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian. Further Reading - Erratum: A replacement name for Lanthanocephalus Modesto, Rubidge and Welman 2002, not Lanthanocephalus Williams and Starmer 2000. - Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 40(3):467. - S. P. Modesto, B. S. Rubidge & J. Welman - 2003.
In Depth At the time of the genus being named, Orovenator is the oldest neodiapsid reptile known to science. The neodiapsids are the ancestral reptile group which includes most modern reptile forms. Further Reading - A new Early Permian reptile and its significance in early diapsid evolution. - Proceedings of the Royal Society B 278 … Read more
In Depth The holotype fossils of Kayentavenator were originally described as Syntarsus kayentakatae until later study declared them to represent a distinct genus of theropods (additionally Syntarsus has now been declared a synonym of Megapnosaurus). Not a lot can be said for Kayentavenator because the skeletal remains are incomplete and of a juvenile dinosaur; combined … Read more
In Depth Whakakai is a genus of whale that lived in waters around New Zealand during the Oligocene. Further Reading - Archaic baleen whale from the Kokoamu Greensand: earbones distinguish a new late Oligocene mysticete (Cetacea: Mysticeti) from New Zealand. - Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 46(2):117-138. - C. H. Tsai & … Read more
In Depth Although not as well known as Pakicetus and Ambulocetus, Rodhocetus is nonetheless important to the study of how whales evolved from land animals. Rodhocetus is but one of a slowly but steadily growing number of transitional fossil genera, but in Rodhocetus the change can actually be seen across the species as well. … Read more
In Depth Eocyclotosaurus is a genus of amphibian predator that lived in both North America and the British Isles during the early Triassic. With a long snout and a mouth full of sharp teeth, Eocyclotosaurus would have hunted for fish and small amphibians in the water. Eocyclotosaurus directly translates as ‘dawn rounded eared lizard’, however … Read more
In Depth Theriognathus represents a later group of therapsids that would survive into the Triassic. Although the name Theriognathus means mammal jaw, the lower jaw is actually made of several bones like in reptiles. Theriognathus was more suited to hunting smaller prey items in the undergrowth. Further Reading – On the genus Theriognathus Owen (including … Read more
In Depth Closely related to the genus Hongshanornis, Longicrusavis was an early bird that lived in China during the Early Cretaceous. Also like Hongshanornis, Longicrusavis is usually portrayed as an early wading bird that would have scoured shallows of lake edges looking for small invertebrates to eat. Further Reading - A new ornithuromorph (Aves: Ornithothoraces) … Read more