In Depth Eustreptospondylus was first described in 1841, but the original fossil material has since been lost. A second set of remains was discovered in 1964 and is surmised to be Eustreptospondylus based upon the description of the original material. The new material features vertebra that are lacking development of the upper parts, indicating that … Read more
In Depth Gannansaurus is a little known genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in China during the late Cretaceous. Because the genus is based upon the description of what is in essence one and a half vertebra very little can be said about this dinosaur. However, the vertebrae of Gannansaurus do show a similarity to … Read more
In Depth This large abelisaurid roamed ancient Patagonia where it may have competed with other predatory dinosaurs like the contempory carcharodontosaurid Mapusaurus. Skorpiovenator shares the same characteristic short but high skull morphology, and may not have had a large bite force, as has been suggested for some other abelisaurids. Skorpiovenator may have used its deep … Read more
In Depth Estimated at over eight meters long, Tarchia is one of the largest ankylosaurids currently known, rivalling even the more famous Ankylosaurus. In fact given that Ankylosaurus is still known only from partial remains, Tarchia may one day actually prove to be the biggest. Tarchia was named along with another large, but slightly smaller … Read more
In Depth Aerosteon was a member of Megaraptora, a group of lightly built theropod dinosaurs that are notable for having enlarged claws upon their hands. The name of this group is derived from the misidentification of first member of the group, Megaraptor being misdentified as a dromaeosaurid ‘raptor’ based upon the presence of a single … Read more
In Depth Much of Australovenator is missing but the parts which are known show a lightweight and fast carnivore that could run down its prey. Study of the fossils have also brought similarities and comparisons between Fukuiraptor from Japan, and Megaraptor from South America, and for this reasons Australovenator is usually termed as a megaraptoran … Read more
In Depth Nedoceratops is a genus of ceratopsian dinosaur that lived in North America in the late Cretaceous. So far only a single skull has been attributed to the genus, but originally this skull was called Diceratops. When this name was found to already be in use however, the name Nedoceratops was given to the … Read more
In Depth With an average size of up to four meters long Clidastes was tiny when compared to the larger mosasaurs such as Mosasaurus and Tylosaurus (the latter of which is actually considered to have been a potential predator of Clidastes). The small size of Clidastes suggests that it specialised in hunting smaller and swifter … Read more
In Depth Eodromaeus is a very exciting find as it may well represent one of the earliest theropods. First thought to have been more fossils of Eoraptor, study by Paul Sereno revealed features not present in Eoraptor. With the fossils realised as a new dinosaur, the fossil description was published with the name Eodromaeus, a … Read more
In Depth A small alvarezsaur, one of the notable things about Albinykus is that even though it is only known by its hind quarters, these were found in a crouching position. Oviraptosaurs and troodonts are also known to have crouched, so the discovery that alvarezsaurs like Albinykus could also enter this position indicates that crouching … Read more