In Depth Rhabdodon is for lack of a better term a puzzle. Although usually described as an iguanodont, Rhabdodon has also been considered as a hypsilophodont, and on top of this it has also been described as a ‘missing link’ between these two groups of dinosaurs. To further the confusion however, Rhabdodon lived in the … Read more
In Depth Protostega is one of the largest turtles to ever swim in the ocean and so far is only eclipsed by Archelon in terms of overall size. Like with Archelon, Protostega is thought to have had a ‘soft’ shell similar to the modern leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Also like with Archelon, Protostega is thought … Read more
In Depth Manidens is a genus of heterodontosaurid dinosaur that lived in Argentina during the Late Cretaceous. As a heterodontosaurid dinosaur, Manidens had a combination of differently formed teeth within the mouth, and for this reason Manidens is often considered to have been omnivorous, however, so far no stomach contents have been identified to confirm … Read more
In Depth Dating from the Bathonian period, Kileskus is even older than Guanlong making it a contender for one of the earliest tyrannosaurs. The partial skull remains have revealed the presence of a crest that rose up from the snout. Beyond this the only thing that can be said about Kileskus is that it appears … Read more
In Depth Galleonosaurus is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived in Australia during the early Cretaceous. The holotype for the genus is a hollow jaw bone, and at the time of writing no other fossil remains are known for this dinosaur. The name Galleoosaurus was chosen because when the fossil bone was held upside … Read more
In Depth The first sauropod dinosaur to ever be named was Cetiosaurus, which was named in 1841 by Richard Owen. Owen however did not realise that he was dealing with a dinosaur, he actually thought that he was dealing with a giant marine crocodile. The first sauropod to actually be identified as a dinosaur was … Read more
In Depth Caryonosuchus is a genus of sphagesaurid notosuchian crocodylomorph that lived in South America during the latter stages of the Cretaceous. So far Caryonosuchus is only known from partial remains, but if relative genera are anything to go by, Caryonosuchus may well have been herbivorous. Further Reading - A new crocodylomorph (Sphagesauridae, Notosuchia) with … Read more
In Depth Saniwa is one of the better known genera of prehistoric monitor lizard, and although initially only known from North America, specimens are now known from Europe as well as northern Asia. Like monitor lizards living today, Saniwa was a predator. Juvenile monitor lizards tend to focus upon hunting invertebrates like insects, but as … Read more
In Depth Pyroraptor acquired its name from the circumstances of its discovery. In 1992 the partially preserved remains of this dinosaur where discovered after a forest fire had swept through the area. Despite the very incomplete remains it has been possible to identify Pyroraptor as a distinct genus from the unique form of the sickle-shaped … Read more
In Depth The holotype fossils of Duriatitan have were previously considered to be species of the genera Ornithopsis and Pelorosaurus, finally settling in Cetiosaurus, by John Hulke all the way back in 1874, before finally being named as a distinct genus in a 2010 re-description. Duriatitan however still suffers from a distinct lack of fossils, … Read more