In Depth Osonachelus is a genus of turtle that lived in Spain during the Eocene. Further Reading - An exceptional cheloniid turtle, Osonachelus decorata nov. gen., nov. sp., from the Eocene (Bartonian) of Catalonia (Spain). - Geobios 47(3):111-132. - F. de Lapparent de Broin, X. Murelaga, F. Farr�s & J. Altimiras - 2014.
In Depth Although easily one of the oldest known pterosaurs, Peteinosaurus has not been well preserved. Still, Peteinosaurus does display features that are similar to Preondactylus, to the extent that the suggestion has been put forward that the two genera are actually one and the same genus, just at different life stages. If this is … Read more
In Depth The holotype remains of Murusraptor were first recovered across 2001 and 2002, but were not described in a scientific paper until 2016. Murusraptor is identified as a megaraptoran theropod dinosaur, and one of potentially large size. The holotype individual of Murusraptor has been estimated to have been just short of six and a … Read more
In Depth One of the many Cretaceous era South American titanosaurian sauropods, Argyrosaurus was also one of the first to be named. The holotype of Argyrosaurus is based upon a left forelimb with further post cranial remains being added to the genus later. However in at least one instance some of these additional fossils have … Read more
In Depth The type specimen of Megacephalosaurus was originally assigned to the Brachauchenius genus, leading to the idea that Brachauchenius was one of the biggest of its time. The removal of this skull has led to a size revision of Brachauchenius, and the establishment of a new genus, Megacephalosaurus. However this still means that there … Read more
In Depth Named after the legendary island of Avalon (and supposed resting place of King Arthur), Avalonnectes was a rhomaleosaurid plesiosaur. Aside from being related to the type genus of the group, Rhomaleosaurus, this meant that Avalonnectes is noted as being a genus of shorter necked plesiosaurs. Avalonnectes has been considered to be a more … Read more
In Depth Named after the Pan American Energy Co. which funded the work that led to the naming of this titanosaurian dinosaur, Panamericansaurus seems to have been a close relative to the genera Aeolosaurus, Pitekunsaurus and Gondwanatitan, and hence is included within the aeolosaurid titanosaurs with them. Further Reading Further reading - Panamericansaurus schroederi gen. … Read more
In Depth Lajasvenator is a genus of carcharodontosaurid dinosaur that lived in South America during the Early cretaceous. Carcharodontosaurid dinosaurs have a reputation for being some of the largest predatory dinosaurs, but Lajasvenator is at the opposite end of the scale, and represents perhaps one of the smallest carcharodontsaurid known. Further Reading - An Early … Read more
In Depth Mesoleptos is a genus that shares several characteristics of snakes and primitive mosasauroids, however at the time of writing Mesoleptos is thought to be more likely a primitive mosasauroid. If correct then this would place Mesoleptos closer to actual monitor lizards than snakes, given that later discoveries with mosasaurs indicate a monitor lizard … Read more
In Depth Acostasaurus is a genus of pliosaur that lived during the early Cretaceous period. Acostasaurus was a small to middle sized pliosaur that seems to have differed from brachauchenisine pliosaur that were otherwise common at the time and location. This could suggest that Acostasaurus had a different lifestyle/feeding preference to other larger pliosaurs. Further … Read more