In Depth Ctenochasma is one of the few known filter feeding pterosaurs, and its name heads up the group Ctenochasmatidae which includes similar pterosaurs such as Pterodaustro and Unwindia. The method of pterosaurs filter feeding is quite simple as instead of having the large needle like teeth associated with catching fish and insects, pterosaurs like … Read more
In Depth Douzhanopterus is a genus of pterosaur that lived in China during the late Jurassic. Douzhanopterus is a pterodactyliforme pterosaur and what this means is that the genus shows a transition from more primitive rhamphorhynchid pterosaurs of the early Jurassic to the more advanced pterodactyloid pterosaurs of the late Jurassic and Cretaceous. Further Reading … Read more
In Depth Argentinadraco is a genus of azdarchid pterosaur that lived in South America during the late Cretaceous. At the time of its description, Argentinadraco is only known from the frontal half of the lower jaws, so it is difficult to ascertain specific details about this pterosaur. Further Reading - New azhdarchoid pterosaur (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) … Read more
In Depth Often known in the media as either ‘Dog Croc’ or ‘Rat Croc’, Araripesuchus is one of the better known terrestrial crocodiles. Study of the dentition reveals that Araripesuchus may have been a generalist hunter. This is indicated by sharp conical teeth towards the front of the mouth, with more rounded sturdier teeth towards … Read more
In Depth Because the holotype specimen of Morenosaurus is incomplete, it is hard to establish a precise classification of his plesiosaur, especially since the skull is unknown. It is probable however that Morenosaurus is an elasmosaurid (similar to Elasmosaurus) since these were the dominant kinds of plesiosaurs during the late Cretaceous. Additionally if this is … Read more
In Depth Avaceratops was a relatively small ceratopsian dinosaur from the late Cretaceous of North America. What makes its classification difficult however is the fact that its neck frill is short and lacks any fenestrae (openings), and with the exception of others like Triceratops, ceratopsians can usually be divided into either centrosaurine or chasmosaurine groups, … Read more
In Depth The naming of Angolatitan was a very important discovery for the country of Angola because it was the first genus of dinosaur known to have come from there. Angolatitan is so far known only from a partial right fore limb, so details like size or a specific dietary preference beyond just plants are … Read more
In Depth A very interesting discovery, Wendiceratops has been identified as one of the oldest centrosaurine ceratopsian dinosaurs so far discovered. At the time of writing only Xenoceratops and Diabloceratops are known to have been older. So far much of what we know about Wendiceratops has been pieced together by fragmentary and partial remains, but … Read more
In Depth For much of the early part of its scientific life the pterosaur Arambourgiania was known as Titanopteryx, however in 1987 Lev Nesov was made aware that the genus name was already being used by a fly. Under ICZN rules, no two animals may share the same genus name. Nesov renamed the specimen Arambourgiania … Read more
In Depth Though only known from partial remains, Shixinggia seems to have been a fairly advanced oviraptorid. Asian oviraptosaurs seem to have been most common in Mongolia, but Shixinggia represents one of the few known to have been living within what are now the borders of China. The first oviraptosaur known to have lived within … Read more