In Depth Qianzhousaurus is a genus of medium sized tyrannosaurid dinosaur that lived in China during the late Cretaceous, and at the time of its description, unlike any other tyrannosaur previously seen. Some Asian tyrannosaur genera such as Alioramus have been noted for having gracile builds and proportionately slightly longer snouts than their larger cousins … Read more
In Depth Diabloroter is a genus of microsaur that lived in North America during the Carboniferous period. A very small creature, Diabloroter were possibly hunters of small insects. Further Reading - Diabloroter bolti, a short-bodied recumbirostran ‘microsaur’ from the Francis Creek Shale, Mazon Creek, Illinois. - Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 1-12. - Arjan … Read more
In Depth Vulcanodon is easily one of the more popular dinosaur genera, and one that has had a number of ‘firsts’ attributed to it. However, our understanding of this genus and changed considerably since it was first described in 1972. The name Vulcanodon means ‘volcano tooth’ and is a reference to the discovery of Vulcanodon … Read more
Tyrannosaurus rex has been known to science since the end of the nineteenth century, and to this day remains arguably the most popular dinosaur the world over. This is evidenced by its almost mandatory inclusion in books, TV shows, games and websites that are about dinosaurs in general. Tyrannosaurus also probably has more toys and … Read more
In Depth Jabalisaurus is a genus of ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaur that lived during the late Jurassic. Further reading - A new ophthalmosaurid (Ichthyosauria) from the Upper Kimmeridgian deposits of the La Casita Formation, near G�mez Far�as, Coahuila, northern Mexico. Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 111: 103499. - Jair Israel Barrientos-Lara & Jes�s Alvarado-Ortega - 2021.
In Depth Zephyrosaurus is considered to be closely related to Orodromeus and possibly also Oryctodromeus based upon the boss-like growths of the cheeks. Zephyrosaurus like these dinosaurs has been speculated to have possibly been a burrowing dinosaur, digging out retreats to which it could hide from the eyes of predators of the time such as … Read more
In Depth Galadi is a genus of bandicoot that lived in Australia during the Miocene. Further Reading Further reading - An exceptionally well-preserved short-snouted bandicoot (Marsupialia; Peramelemorphia) from Riversleigh’s Oligo-Miocene deposits, northwestern Queensland, Australia. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(5):1528-1546. - K. J. Travouillion, Y. Gurovich, R. M. D. Beck & J. Muirhead - 2010. … Read more
In Depth Although giant crocodiles like Sarcosuchus usually steal the limelight, the little ones such as Bernissartia can prove just as interesting. Aside from being one of the smallest crocodiles in the fossil record, Bernissartia had two distinct types of teeth. The front teeth are sharp and pointed, and are thought to have been for … Read more
In Depth Concavenator is certainly different from the other known theropod dinosaurs that came before it. Its most striking feature is the protrusion above its hips that is caused by the extension of two presacral vertebrae. Its speculated that these vertebrae would have supported either a sail or hump structure. Theories as to its purpose … Read more
In Depth Lonchognathosaurus had jaws that were typical of the dsungaripterid pterosaurs in that they were pointed and lacked teeth towards the front of the snout. It’s thought that pterosaurs like Lonchognathosaurus used this design to dig out invertebrates so that they can be crushed with the stout teeth towards the rear of the mouth. … Read more