In Depth Iberodactylus is a genus of pterosaur that lived in Europe during the early Cretaceous. Iberodactylus is thought to be related to the genus Hamipterus. For this reason the describers used more complete remains of Hamipterus to gauge the size of Iberodactylus, the result of which was a wingspan estimate of up to about … Read more
In Depth Described in 2012, the original describers of Qianxisaurus described the holotype as a basal eosauropterygian. Further Reading – A new eosauropterygian (Diapsida, Sauropterygia) from the Triassic of China”. – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 32 (6): 1335 – Y. N. Cheng, X. C. Wu, T. Sato, H. Y. Shan – 2012.
In Depth Although only named from partial skull remains representing what seems to be a small dinosaur, Ajkaceratops has been one of the most important dinosaur discoveries of the early twenty-first century; it is the first ceratopsian dinosaur definitively proven to have come from Europe. Ceratopsian dinosaurs were very common across Asia and North America … Read more
In Depth At just over half a meter in length, Shuvuuia is not just one of the smallest alvarezsaurs, it is among the smallest known dinosaurs. It is thanks to this small size that the Shuvuuia holotype was so well preserved because it could be buried much more quickly than a larger dinosaur (larger dinosaurs … Read more
In Depth Odontochelys translates to English as ‘toothed turtle with a half-shell’, and this is in reference to the fact that only the plastron (bottom half) of the shell is developed. How the shell formed though is a matter of debate amongst palaeontologists as some consider Odontochelys to be a transitory form in the evolution … Read more
In Depth Coelophysis is frequently used as an example of the early dinosaurs. Its bipedal stance from two legs that supported its body from underneath as opposed to sticking out to the sides, smaller arms and head mounted on an ‘S curved’ neck give it the distinctive theropod look. Coelophysis also had sharp recurved teeth … Read more
In Depth Originally uncovered during the 1960s, the holotype teeth of Trimucrodon were originally thought to be from a small mammal. In 1973 however Richard Thulborn recognised that the teeth were actually from a small dinosaur, though his paper describing them and naming the genus did not actually get formally published until 1975. Today Trimucrodon … Read more
In Depth Afrotapejara is a genus of tapejarid pterosaur that lived in North Africa at the time of the Early/Late Cretaceous boundary. Further Reading - new tapejarid (Pterosauria, Azhdarchoidea) from the mid-Cretaceous Kem Kem beds of Takmout, southern Morocco. - Cretaceous Research. - David M. Martill, Roy Smith, David M. Unwin, Alexander Kao, James McPhee … Read more
In Depth Foxemys is a genus of bothremydid turtle that is considered to have been similar to Polysternon as well as closely related to Puentemys. Further Reading - Foxemys, a new side-necked turtle (Bothremydidae, Pelomedusoides) from the late Cretaceous of France. - American Museum Novitates 3251 (3251): 1–19. Retrieved 19 January 2012. - Haiyan Tong, … Read more
In Depth At the time of writing the only parts of the dinosaur Pycnonemosaurus that have been recovered include some legs and hip bones as well as caudal (tail) vertebrae and teeth. These parts however are enough to identify Pycnonemosaurus as an abelisaurid theropod dinosaur. Like with other abelisaurs, Pycnonemosaurus would be expected to have … Read more