Eomanis

In Depth        The name Eomanis is a reference to how this ancient pangolin appeared long before the genus Manis,‭ ‬the only known genus of pangolin that is alive today.‭ ‬Unless future discoveries prove otherwise,‭ ‬Eomanis is the first known scaled pangolin,‭ ‬though the scales seem to have covered only the body and not the legs … Read more

Carolinacetus

In Depth        Carolinacetus is a genus of protocetid whale known to have‭ ‬lived around what is now South Carolina during the later half‭ ‬of the Eocene.‭ ‬Carolinacetus appears to have been slightly larger than other protocetids such as Georgiacetus,‭ ‬while also being one of the more primitive protocetid genera known from North America. Further Reading … Read more

Mylodon

mylodon

In Depth        Compared to other giant ground sloths Mylodon is closely related to Glossotherium.‭ ‬While analysis of dung samples has confirmed it was a herbivore,‭ ‬Mylodon would have also been especially resilient to attack from predators due to the presence of thick bony plates called osteoderms.‭ ‬These osteoderms were just under the skin and in … Read more

Glyptodon

glyptodon

In Depth        Along with Doedicurus,‭ ‬Glyptodon is one of the better known members of the Glyptodontidae,‭ ‬and as you may have already guessed,‭ ‬is the type genus of this group since this was the first genus to be named.‭ ‬Unlike Doedicurus however,‭ ‬Glyptodon did not possess a spiked club on the end of its tail.‭ … Read more

Sinotherium

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

Machairodus

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

Protemnodon

In Depth        Protemnodon was in essence very much like a wallaby,‭ ‬though much larger in physical size.‭ ‬Protemnodon fossils are also known from Papua New Guinea making this genus one of the most geographically wide ranging genera of wallaby. Further Reading -‭ ‬Ecological and evolutionary significance of sizes of giant extinct kangaroos‭ ‬-‭ ‬Australian Journal … Read more

Vintana

In Depth        Vintana is a‭ ‬genus of gondwanatherian mamaml that lived in Madagascar during the Late Cretaceous,‭ ‬and was the first genus where skull fossils were discovered. Further Reading -‭ ‬First cranial remains of a gondwanatherian mammal reveal remarkable mosaicism.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Nature‭ ‬515:512-517.‭ ‬-‭ ‬D.‭ ‬W.‭ ‬Krause,‭ ‬S.‭ ‬Hoffmann,‭ ‬J.‭ ‬R.‭ ‬Wible,‭ ‬E.‭ ‬C.‭ ‬Kirk,‭ … Read more