In Depth Although so far only known from partial remains, Qiupalong has been identified as a distinct ornithomimid genus on the basis of differences in the tibia from other known genera of this group. Further analysis has led the team that described Qiupalong to consider it to be similar to Struthiomimus altus and Ornithomimus edmontonicus, … Read more
In Depth A not very well known genus of mosasaur, Ectenosaurus has still helped us to confirm that older ideas about how mosasaurs swam are simply wrong. Over a hundred years ago mosasaurs were thought to have been close relatives of snakes (again an idea that is now seen as wrong), and like them the … Read more
In Depth Riojasaurus was and still often is credited as being related to Melanorosaurus, though detailed study of the two genera does turn up some key differences. These two genera are both significant in the development of the sauropodomorphs into the large sauropods common by the late Jurassic in that they are both large and … Read more
In Depth Kentisuchus is a genus of crocodile known to have lived around Europe during the Eocene. Further Reading - Two new genera of Eocene crocodilians. - American Museum Novitates 1727:1-4. - C. C. Mook - 1955. - A new basal tomistomine (Crocodylia, Crocodyloidea) from Issel (Middle Eocene; France): palaeobiogeography of basal tomistomines and palaeogeographic … Read more
In Depth Didelphodon acquired its name because of its similar dentition to a modern day opossum, which in turn has indicated a matching diet of insects and small animals. Its body morphology also suggests adaptation for burrowing, a good survival tactic when you consider the predatory dinosaurs of its time. As an ancient marsupial, Didelphodon … Read more
In Depth Metapterodon is a genus of creodont that lived in Africa during the early Miocene. A former species of Metapterodon, M. schlosseri, has now been assigned to its own genus, Falcatodon. Additionally, another species of Metapterodon, M. markgrafi, has been moved to the Sectisodon genus. Further Reading - A new creodont Metapterodon stromeri nov. … Read more
In Depth Fucaia is a genus of aetiocetid whale known to have lived in the waters of the Pacific North-West during the early Oligocene. A former species of Chonecetus, C. goedertorum, is now reassigned as belonging to the Fucaia genus. Further Reading - A new Early Oligocene toothed ‘baleen’ whale (Mysticeti: Aetiocetidae) from western North … Read more
In Depth Kaikaifilu is certainly an interesting genus of mosasaur. First it was one of the larger mosasaurs known to have been hunting in the waters of the Southern hemisphere. Also, the teeth of Kaikaifilu were heterodont, meaning that there were different forms of teeth within the mouth. This makes Kaikaifilu to be the only … Read more
In Depth Nesodactylus was actually collected way back in 1918 by Barnum Brown, but it was not until the limestone blocks that the remains were in cased were dissolved in acid in 1966 that the remains became known. Not much can be said about the diet and lifestyle of Nesodactylus except that it was a … Read more
In Depth Ceratosuchops is a genus of spinosaurid dinosaur that lived in the British Isles during the early Cretaceous. Ceratosuchops was named alongside another spinosaurid dinosaur from Britain called Riparovenator. Further reading - New spinosaurids from the Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, UK) and the European origins of Spinosauridae. - Scientific Reports. 11 (1): 19340 - … Read more