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
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