In Depth Kalaallitkigun is a genus of cynodont that lived in Greenland during the Triassic. At the time of its description Kalaallitkigun is known only from a partial lower jaw bone and a premolar and molar tooth. The teeth structure of the molar suggests that Kalaallitkigun was intermediate in its development lying somewhere between more … Read more
In Depth Barrosasaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in South America during the late Cretaceous. At the time of its description, the genus is only represented by three dorsal vertebrae. Further Reading - Barrosasaurus casamiquelai gen. et sp. nov., a new titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Anacleto Formation (Late Cretaceous: early Campanian) … Read more
In Depth Named in 2010, Kosmoceratops has quickly become a dinosaur fan favourite, thanks largely to the highly ornate form of the skull, which was also the inspiration for the genus name. To start, the frill section of the skull is twice as wide as it is long, which by physical proportions, means that it … Read more
In Depth The few scant fragmentary remains of Labocania make it very difficult to classify, but analysis of the post cranial elements suggest that it was a tyrannosaurid. What parts of the skull which are known are more robust however suggesting that Labocania had a differently shaped skull. It is easy to see why Labocania … Read more
In Depth Rhabdodon is for lack of a better term a puzzle. Although usually described as an iguanodont, Rhabdodon has also been considered as a hypsilophodont, and on top of this it has also been described as a ‘missing link’ between these two groups of dinosaurs. To further the confusion however, Rhabdodon lived in the … Read more
In Depth Protostega is one of the largest turtles to ever swim in the ocean and so far is only eclipsed by Archelon in terms of overall size. Like with Archelon, Protostega is thought to have had a ‘soft’ shell similar to the modern leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Also like with Archelon, Protostega is thought … Read more
In Depth Sinotherium is a genus of extinct rhinoceros that seems to have been broadly spread across Eurasia between what is now Russia and northern China. The Sinotherium genus is has been believed to have evolved from the earlier Iranotherium. In turn Sinotherium is believed to have given rise to the much better known Elasmotherium. … Read more
In Depth While Machairodus possesses enlarged canine fangs they seem to be intermediate between regular sized canines and the larger canines exhibited by other similar cats. These teeth combined with squat proportions and a robust physique has led to speculation that Machairodus’s hunting behaviour was that of an ambush predator. The popular depiction of Machairodus … Read more
In Depth Usually considered to be a primitive fish with an elongate eel-like body, there is no universal agreement into what Palaeospondylus actually was. In the past Palaeospondylus has been proposed to be a larval lungfish, unarmoured placoderm, an arthrodire, a chimaera and even a larval tetrapod. A primitive fish that might be similar … Read more
In Depth Nitosaurus is a genus of pelycosaur that lived in North America during the late Carboniferous. Further Reading - New genera and species of pelycosaurian reptiles. - Proceedings of the New England Zo�logical Club 16:89-95. - A. S. Romer - 1937.