In Depth Leptosuchus is a genus of phytosaur that is currently known from a few species. Phytosaurs like Leptosuchus were very much like crocodiles, though they were not actually directly related to them. An exceptionally large skull once assigned as Leptosuchus gregorii, has since been moved to the genus Smilosuchus, though since this time there … Read more
In Depth The first specimen of Acamptonectes was discovered in 1958 from the Speeton Clay Formation, but was never officially described. A second specimen from this formation was recovered in 1985. Early interpretations of Acamptonectes led to the conclusion that it was similar to Platypterygius, but a new discovery from Germany in 2003 was found … Read more
In Depth Zupaysaurus is often reconstructed with a pair of crests rising from the top of its skull like the more famous Dilophosaurus. Indeed, Zupaysaurus also has a similar upper jaw arrangement to Dilophosaurus with a notable gap between the teeth of the maxilla and premaxilla forming a small notch. However if a 2005 presentation … Read more
In Depth Aigialosaurus was a semi aquatic lizard that was developed to enter the water yet still return to land. This is similar to many other lizards at this stage of the Cretaceous that would eventually evolve into the mosauridae, the last major group of marine reptiles that would adapt to ocean life during the … Read more
In Depth Though only a small animal, as of 2015 Erpetonyx is the earliest known appearance of a parareptile. This is an important discovery as it helps to fill a gap in our understanding of the evolution of reptiles. The original describers have also speculated that Erpetonyx is a possible bolosaurid. Further Reading - The … Read more
In Depth Although Champsosaurus looked like a crocodile and almost certainly lived like a crocodile, the genus was actually a member of the Choristodera. This is a separate group of diapsid reptiles which means that despite the physical similarity, Champsosaurus was not related to the modern crocodiles that we know today. Out of all the … Read more
In Depth Amurosaurus has been based only upon very partial remains, though these were taken from a bonebed of multiple dinosaurs, and further remains are likely to be in there somewhere. Slowly the picture of a lambeosaurine hadrosaurid (the kind with a hollow crest) has been pieced together with an appearance similar to that of … Read more
In Depth The description of Velafrons is based upon the remains of a juvenile individual. This has allowed for an increased insight into how hadrosaurs developed as they grew up, though the case of Velafrons is a little different. Most hadrosaurs known from juvenile individuals show a proportionately large skull in relation to the body … Read more
In Depth It is a wonderful coincidence that the construction of a dinosaur museum would actually result in the discovery of a new dinosaur, Agilisaurus. In fact the remains of Agilisaurus are now on display in the very same museum, the Zigong Dinosaur Museum. The name Agilisaurus is in reference to its lightweight build and … Read more
In Depth The sauropodomorph dinosaurs are the missing links between earlier theropod dinosaurs, and later sauropod descendants. As a group they show a transition from a predatory carnivorous lifestyle, to an herbivorous one. Buriolestes is a sauropodomoprh dinosaur, yet the teeth and jaw structure are much more like those seen in meat eating theropod dinosaurs. … Read more