In Depth Initially thought to represent a new specimen of Zephyrosaurus, the small partial skull of the holotype was soon realised to be a whole new genus of small ceratopsian dinosaur. Like most primitive ceratopsian dinosaurs, Aquilops was a fairly small dinosaur measuring just over half a meter in length. The name Aquilops means ‘eagle … Read more
In Depth Adamantinasuchus was a fairly small notosuchian crocodylomorph from the late Cretaceous Adamantina Formation of Brazil, Many crurotarsans are known from the Adamantina Formation, including Armadillosuchus, Morrinhosuchus, Baurusuchus and Mariliasuchus to name just a few. Out of these, Adamantinasuchus may have been most similar to Mariliasuchus. The teeth of Adamantinasuchus suggest a possible carnivorous … Read more
In Depth A little known creature, Acteosaurus has been speculated to be a marine reptile, similar to the mosasauroids. Acteosaurus was named after Actaeon, a hunter in Greek Mythology. Further Reading – On the Subdivisions of the Inferior Oolite in the South of England, compared with the Equivalent Beds of that Formation on the Yorkshire … Read more
In Depth For one hundred and forty years Amphicoelias was regarded by some to have been one of the largest dinosaurs to ever walk the earth. First named in 1878 by Edward Drinker Cope, and based upon some truly large fossils of vertebrae and partial limbs and pubis bones. Three species were named, A. altus, … Read more
In Depth Archeopelta was a quadrupedal low slung reptile with a build similar to that of a crocodile. Archeopelta also would have had armoured scutes protecting its body in a similar manner to a crocodile. A predator of smaller animals, the armour may have protected them from rauisuchians and the early ancestors of the … Read more
In Depth When it comes to naming prehistoric animals, the names can be confusing, but Apatomerus, which means ‘deceptive femur’ was spot on. Initially thought to a thigh of a crocodile, Williston later declared it to be a pterosaur bone. Later study has now deduced that it is probably not a pterosaur bone and is … Read more
In Depth Aymberedactylus is a genus of tapejarid pterosaur that lived in what is now Brazil during the early Cretaceous. At the time of the genus description the only fossils of Aymberedactylus are the lower jaws. These however seem to indicate that Aymberedactylus is one of the most primitive tapejarid pterosaurs known to us. Further … Read more
In Depth Named after the Atacama Desert, Atacamatitan was a genus of titanosaur sauropod that lived in what is now Chile during the late Cretaceous. More precise details about the genus however remain hard to establish, due to the fact that the remains of Atacamatitan are very incomplete. Further Reading - A new titanosaur sauropod … Read more
In Depth Afrotapejara is a genus of pterosaur that lived in North Africa at the time of the Early/Late Cretaceous boundary. Further Reading - A new ?chaoyangopterid (Pterosauria: Pterodactyloidea) from the Cretaceous Kem Kem beds of Southern Morocco. - Cretaceous Research. 110: Article 104410. - James McPhee, Nizar Ibrahim, Alex Kao, David M. Unwin, Roy … Read more
In Depth Axestemys is a genus of soft shelled turtle that lived from the Late Cretaceous to at least the Eocene, and is known from both North America and Europe. Instead of a hard shell, Axestemys would have had a tough leathery skin surrounding its body. Modern day soft shelled turtles can be omnivorous, meaning … Read more