In Depth The Introduction of Megalosaurus to Science Megalosaurus was the dinosaur that started a great many things including the science of palaeontology, the debate about if dinosaurs should be called names that end with ‘saurus’ because they are not ‘lizards’, to lifetimes of fascination about the creatures that once walked the Earth when we … Read more
In Depth Acristavus was a late surviving hadrosaurid that stood out from amongst the others of its kind because it had no head ornamentation. Although not strictly unique, many of the other better known hadrosaurids such as Parasaurolophus and Lambeosaurus had very elaborate and impressive head crests. The fact Acristavus did not have one suggests … Read more
In Depth The phylogentic classification of Tapejara has been quite turbulent with a total of three species once being attributed to the genus with the one surviving species is the first type specimen, Tapejara wellnhoferi. The two other species Tapejara imperator and Tapejara navigans have since been split to form the new genus Tupandactylus. Another … Read more
In Depth Maaradactylus is a genus of anhangeurid pterosaur that lived in Brazil during the early Cretaceous. Maaradactylus is known to have had thirty-five pairs of teeth in the upper jaw as well as a crest rising up from the front of the upper jaw. Being a member of the Anhangueridae, Maaradactylus would have been … Read more
In Depth When Ornithopsis was named by Harry Govier Seeley in 1870, Seeley noted the pneumaticised vertebrae and considered Ornithopsis to represent a link between pterosaurs and birds. Richard Owen however said that he was wrong, the vertebra actually represented a kind of large marine reptile, though one that probably had a well-developed respiratory system. … Read more
In Depth Dzharatitanis is a genus of rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur that lived in Asia during the late Cretaceous. Although initially described from a single tail vertebra, this fossil has revealed that Dzharatitanis was a rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur, making it the first rebbachisaurid genus to be discovered in Asia. Further Reading - First rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur … Read more
In Depth While Animantarx may not be the best known nodosaurid dinosaur, it is a contender for having one of the coolest dinosaur names. Unfortunately Animantarx is only known by an incomplete skull, lower jaw and some vertebrae, which means that reconstructions are reliant upon other nodosaur parts and a best guess by the reconstructions. … Read more
In Depth The genus Pterodactylus was the first ever pterosaur named, however it suffered from the wastebasket taxon effect for the first fifty to hundred years of its history, and since this time many former species have been re-identified as being similar yet very distinct genera. Aerodactylus is yet another example of this, being originally … Read more
In Depth When first described Estesia was considered to be a member of the Varanoidea, the group that contains modern day monitor lizards (i.e. lace monitor, komodo dragon, etc). This relationship was based mostly upon the similarity of the jaws as well as the teeth which were sharp and recurved (curve to face the back … Read more
In Depth Notohypsilophodon is a genus of small ornithopod dinosaur that lived in South America during the late Cretaceous. Notohypsilophodon is so named based upon a superficial similarity to the genus Hypsilophodon while also recognising the more southern occurrence of this individual. Notohypsilophodon is so far only known from the partial remains of a juvenile, … Read more