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.
In Depth Although so far known from only a single partial skull, Acristatherium is thought to represent one of the oldest known eutherian mammals. Acristatherium probably spent most of the time hunting for invertebrate prey which could easily be caught and processed by the small but sharp teeth, while trying to stay out of sight … Read more
In Depth Mystacodon is a genus of primitive whale that lived in waters around South America during the Eocene. Mystacodon is a transitional form, somewhere between the predatory toothed whale ancestors and later filter feeding baleen whales. Mystacodon however is thought to have been a suction feeder. This is where the whale would open its … Read more
In Depth Originally described as a species of Gaviacetus, Kharodacetus is a genus of protocetid whale known to have inhabited the coastal waters of India during the Eocene. Further Reading - Protocetid cetaceans (Mammalia) from the Eocene of India. - Palaeontologia Electronica 17 (3, 34A): 19 p. - Sunil Bajpai & J. G. M. Thewissen … Read more
In Depth The fossil material for Magericyon was originally described as a species of Amphicyon until a new study by Peigne et al in 2008. Magericyon was found to be different from Amphicyon by close study of the form and proportion of the teeth. In naming the new genus the describers chose the name Magericyon … Read more