In Depth Not many pterosaurs are known from Spain, but Prejanopterus is so far one of the better preserved specimens. The interesting thing about the Prejanopterus is that although the bottom jaw is straight, the upper jaw curves upwards and away from the bottom jaw. This is not considered a distortion of the jaw as … Read more
In Depth Since the genus was first named from fossils in Nevada, USA, Omphalosaurus was usually perceived as a small and primitive ichthyosaur that lived during the early Triassic. Towards the end of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries however questions were raised about the genus being an ichthyosaur with notes about how the known … Read more
In Depth Sludica was a procynosuchid cynodont that lived in Russia during the late Permian. Further Reading - Permian Cynodontia (Theromorpha) of Eastern Europe - M. F. Ivachnenko - 2012.
In Depth Noasaurus is the type genus of the noasauridae, a side group of theropod dinosaurs that are thought to have had the same immediate origins as the abelisaurids (such as Abelisaurus and Aucasaurus). Noasaurus however is only known by very partial remains which makes it difficult to ascertain specific details about this dinosaur. At … Read more
In Depth Ubirajara is a genus of compsognathid dinosaur that lived in South America during the early Cretaceous. At the time of its description Ubirajara is unique amongst the compsognathids due to the elaborate feather covering. This is mainly from a bushy mane of hair like proto-feathers that measured up to 11 centimetres long over … Read more
In Depth Along with Doedicurus, Glyptodon is one of the better known members of the Glyptodontidae, and as you may have already guessed, is the type genus of this group since this was the first genus to be named. Unlike Doedicurus however, Glyptodon did not possess a spiked club on the end of its tail. … Read more
In Depth Shanxia is a genus of ankylosaur that lived in China during the Late Cretaceous. However not much fossil material is available and there is speculation that Shanxia may actually just be further remains of the genus Tianzhenosaurus. Further Reading - A new ankylosaurian dinosaur (Ornithischia: Ankylosauria) from the Upper Cretaceous of Shanxi Province, … Read more
In Depth Diaelurodon is a little known genus of therapsid. Further Reading – On some New South African Permian Reptiles. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 81(4):1073-1082. – Robert Broom – 1911.
In Depth Nanshiungosaurus was first described from partial remains mostly consisting of vertebrae in 1979. To begin with Nanshiungosaurus was thought to be a titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur, a bit later it was realised to be a therizinosaur. As a therizinosaur, Nanshiungosaurus was a theropod dinosaur that had adapted to a herbivorous diet instead of a … Read more
In Depth Ornithostoma was once considered to identical to Pteranodon, although modern thinking has it recognised as its own genus. Unfortunately Ornithostoma has suffered from the wastebasket effect with numerous poorly preserved remains being attributed to it. Although not much is known for certain, the toothless beak of Ornithostoma likely indicates a fish eating piscivorous … Read more