In Depth Sthenurus was a large kangaroo, similar to the better known Procoptodon. Analysis of Sthenurus fossil locations combined with carbon dating has yielded the conclusion that Sthenurus was a generalist herbivore that adapted to whatever plants were available. This is because analysis shoes that at some times and locations Sthenurus would be a browser … Read more
In Depth Unfortunately we cannot not bring you too much information about Protemnocyon at this time other than the little that is stated above. The name Protemnocyon is a reference to another species of bear dog called Temnocyon that was active in North America during the Oligocene to Miocene periods. Further Reading – Oligocene Canidae. … Read more
In Depth One of the monkey lemurs from Madagascar, Hadropithecus is often described as being similar to its relative Archaeolemur in behaviour and lifestyle. Hadropithecus was a powerfully built lemur that seems to have been best adapted to a cursorial life on the ground. Lemurs as we know them today usually have long arms and … Read more
In Depth Yubaatar is a genus multituberculate mammal that lived in China during the late Cretaceous. With a reconstructed skull size of seven centimetres, Yubaatar was at the time of the genus description one of the larger known multituberculate mammals known to have been living in Asia during the late Cretaceous. Further Reading - Largest … Read more
In Depth Presbytherium is a genus of pantodont mammal that lived in the Canadian province of Alberta during the Palaeocene period. Further Reading - New cyriacotheriid pantodonts (Mammalia, Pantodonta) from the Paleocene of Alberta, Canada, and the relationships of Cyriacotheriidae. - Journal of Paleontology 84(2):197-215. - Craig S. Scott - 2010.
In Depth A relatively small ground sloth when compared to others such as Megatherium, Eremotherium and Glossotherium, Nothrotheriops seems to have had a similar lifestyle and dietary preference of browsing upon vegetation. One specimen of Nothrotheriops from Aden Crater in New Mexico was found in a lava tube and still had the remnants of hair … Read more
In Depth The Pliocene and Pleistocene periods are well documented as having a large number of big cats roaming all over the world as apex predators of the landscape, however Homotherium is actually quite different to many of the other genera. To begin with, Homotherium is what is termed a scimitar-toothed cat (after the sword), … Read more
In Depth Indocetus is a genus of protocetid whale that was first name from the discovery of a partial skull from the Harudi Formation of India in 1975. In 1993 new whale fossils from the Domanda Formation of Pakistan were added to the Indocetus genus, and this was a significant development since these were the … Read more
In Depth Kollikodon shares four things with another monotreme called Steropodon. One is that they were both related to the modern day platypus. Two is that they are both known from the same fossil formation. Three is that both of these genera have been described only from partial jaw bones. Four is that both of … Read more
In Depth Panochthus is a genus of glyptodont that lived across much of South America during the Pleistocene. Like some of its relatives, Panochthus was a large herbivore with bony armour plates that grew into a dome like structure over its back. The tail was also covered by bony armoured bands. Further Reading - Contribuci�n … Read more