In Depth Although not very well known, Arctamphicyon might have been one of the last surviving genera of bear dog. This is based upon analysis of the faunal assemblage Dhok Pathan Formation which has yielded a concentration of other animals from these eras. Further Reading – A new amphicyonid (Mammalia, Carnivora, Amphicyonidae) from the late … Read more
In Depth Phiomia was a primitive proboscean of the Eocene/Oligocene that was still quite similar in appearance to a modern elephant. One of the key features about Phiomia was the lower mouth where two tusks grew forwards into a shovel-like structure. This may have been used to shovel up plants from out of the ground, … Read more
In Depth Artiocetus was an important transisitional find because individuals of this genus still possessed artiodactyl-like ankles. In modern palaeontology whales have long been thought to have descended from land living artiodactyl ancestors, specifically anthracotheres, and the observation of artiodactyl ankles in a primitive whale is further proof of this theory. Although a whale ancestor, … Read more
In Depth One of the hyaenodonts, Tritemnodon means ‘three cutting tooth’ and is a reference to how the teeth were formed for greater slicing efficiency, something that hyaenodonts have a reputation for being able to with the greatest ease. The relatively small stature and gracile build of Tritemnodon means that these were most likely predators … Read more
In Depth The change from a terrestrial to more aquatic life that began with Pakicetus through Ambulocetus continued with the further developments of Protocetus. The front limbs still had webbed toes, but the rear limbs were already greatly reduced in size to the point of them being vestigial. The caudal vertebrae towards the end of … Read more
In Depth Whereas Smilodon is without doubt the most famous prehistoric big cat, Dinofelis is the most notorious. This notoriety comes from the long association of Dinofelis hunting and eating early hominids like Homo habilis, Paranthropus and Australopithecus afarensis, thought by some to be an ancestor to modern humans. This predation reveals that Dinofelis was … Read more
In Depth Kielanobaatar is a genus of mammal that lived in China during the early Cretaceous. Further Reading - New multituberculate mammals from the Lower Cretaceous (Shahai and Fuxin formations), northeastern China. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(5):1501-1514. - N. Kusuhashi, Y. Hu, T. Setoguchi & H. Matsuoka - 2010.
In Depth Like with other gompothere elephants, Amebelodon had two pairs of tusks, one in the upper jaw and one pair in the lower. The lower pair of tusks are of particular interest with this genus since they were shaped to form a shovel-like structure that pointed forwards from the lower jaw. It is widely … Read more
In Depth In popular culture, especially at the turn of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Andrewsarchus has been presented as a huge predator, similar in form to other quadrupedal meat eating mammals, but powerfully built like a big cat or even a bear. However despite this reconstruction becoming very familiar in the public consciousness, palaeontologists … Read more
In Depth Metaliomys is a genus of rodent that lived in the USA during the Late Miocene. Further Reading - Rodents and lagomorphs (Mammalia) from the Hemphillian (Late Miocene) of Utah. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(1):226-235. - W. W. Korth & D. D. De Blieux - 2010.