In Depth Neuquenraptor was very nearly the first dromaeosaurid dinosaur to be discovered on the South American continent. First discovered in 1996, the holotype specimen was unofficially named Araucanoraptor argentinus in 1997. Also in 1997 another dromaeosaurid genus named Unenlagia was named from the same formation, and because this genus had a proper description, Unenlagia … Read more
In Depth Rubeosaurus originally started out as a species of Styracosaurus that was based upon partial skull remains, a partial parietal bone recovered in 1928 and a slightly more complete second specimen consisting of left and right nasal and horncore, left premaxilla, partial left orbital with horncore and almost complete right parietal with two spikes. … Read more
In Depth Lusovenator is a genus of carcharodontosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in Europe during the late Jurassic. The known fossils of Lusovenator suggest a size of a little of three meters, though they also indicate that these fossils belonged to a juvenile and was therefore not fully grown. The full grown size of Lusovenator … Read more
In Depth Zuoyunlong is a genus of hadrosauroid dinosaur that lived in China during the early stages of the late Cretaceous. In terms of physical development, hadrosauroid dinosaurs were in between the earlier iguanodonts of the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous, and the later hadrosaurids that were most common by the end of the late … Read more
In Depth When Appalachiosaurus was first discovered it raised more than a few eyebrows because it was discovered in the Eastern United States. Up until that point only one other genus of tyrannosaur named Dryptosaurus had been found in the eastern half of the USA. The one specimen of Appalachiosaurus appears to have been a … Read more
In Depth At times the skull of Naashoibitosaurus has been attributed to Kritosaurus, while the post cranial skeleton attributed to Edmontosaurus. This is because the skull has been challenged as representing a growth stage of Kritosaurus, though other studies have shown that it is different enough to be regarded as its own genus. Currently however, … Read more
In Depth Stupendemys was a genus of pleurodiran turtle, a type better known as a side-necked turtle. Side necked turtles acquired their name because their necks are so long that the only way they could fit under the shell was to fold their necks into one side. The preserved length of the largest known Stupendemys … Read more
In Depth Klobiodon is a genus of rhamphorhynchid pterosaur that lived in Europe during the mid Jurassic. Klobiodon was large for the type of pterosaur it was, and was probably a hunter of fish. Further Reading - Pterosauria of the Great Oolite Group (Bathonian, Middle Jurassic) of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, England. - Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. … Read more
In Depth Like Ornithocheirus, Anhanguera had rounded crests on both the tip of its snout and lower jaw. Also the jaws broadened towards the tip with the sharp thin teeth pointing outwards in what is often referred to as a rosette. This arrangement greatly increased the ‘catch area’ for Anhanguera as it flew over the … Read more
In Depth Tanycolagreus has been dubbed a run of the mill kind of Jurassic predator. Small and lightweight, Tanycolagreus probably focused its attentions on hunting smaller dinosaurs that were too difficult for larger predators to live on. However the holotype specimen is of a three meter subadult, with further referred material indicating a size approaching … Read more