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.
In Depth Hemipristis is a genus of weasel shark which includes the extinct species H. serra, H. curvatus and H. wyattdurhami, although the most popular species by far is H. serra. The last surviving member of the Hemipristis genus is H. elongata, better known as the Snaggletooth shark. H. serra seems to have been a … Read more
In Depth Siriusgnathus is a genus of cynodont that lived in South America during the Late Triassic. Further Reading - A new Upper Triassic cynodont-bearing fossiliferous site from southern Brazil, with taphonomic remarks and description of a new traversodontid taxon. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 88:179-196. - A. E. B. Pavanatto, F. A. Pretto, … Read more
In Depth Manidens is a genus of heterodontosaurid dinosaur that lived in Argentina during the Late Cretaceous. As a heterodontosaurid dinosaur, Manidens had a combination of differently formed teeth within the mouth, and for this reason Manidens is often considered to have been omnivorous, however, so far no stomach contents have been identified to confirm … Read more
In Depth Trilophosaurus was quite a large genus of diapsid reptile that seems to have been like a particularly large Iguana in not only terms of general appearance but ecological niche. Trilophosaurus was a quadrupedal diapsid with a low slung body and a tail that made up over half of the total length. The skull … Read more