In Depth Thalattoarchon was a genus of primitive ichthyosaur that stands out as one of the earliest marine reptiles to be an apex predator of large aquatic organisms. What this means is that rather than focusing upon small prey like shoaling fish and squid like smaller ichthyosaurs, Thalattoarchon most probably hunted the smaller ichthyosaurs themselves … Read more
In Depth Although Effigia resembles and ornithomimid dinosaur, it is thought that this is just a case of convergent evolution. Later studies have suggested that Effigia is the same creature as the archosaur Chatterjeea and that both are synonymous with the archosaur Shuvosaurus. The type specimen is named after the renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe, whose … Read more
In Depth Lisboasaurus is a genus of crocodylomorph that lived in Portugal during the late Jurassic. A former species of Lisboasaurus, L. mitracostatus, has now been re-assigned to its own genus, Lusitanisuchus. Further Reading - Upper Jurassic lizards from central Portugal. Contribui��o para o conhecimento da Fauna do Kimerridgiano da Mina de Lignito Guimarota (Leiria, … Read more
In Depth Banji is a genus of small oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in China During the late Cretaceous. The name Banji translates as (striped crest), and is a reference to the striations that run vertically along the crest. Another feature seen in the holotype skull is that the nasal opening is by proportion unusually large … Read more
In Depth Tacuarembemys is a genus of turtle that lived in South America during the late Jurassic. Further Reading - Tacuarembemys kusterae, gen. et sp. nov., a new Late Jurassic-?earliest Cretaceous continental turtle from western Gondwana. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34(6):1329-1341. - D. Perea, M. Soto, J. Sterli, V. Mesa, P. Torino, G. Roland & … Read more
In Depth A little known oviraptorid, Elmisaurus is based upon very few remains. Initially cited as a species of the North American Chirostenotes, it was quickly named as a distinct genus. Still, the Chirostenotes connection did not end there as in 1989 the palaeontologist Philip Currie established a second species, Elmisaurus elegans based upon oviraptorid … Read more
In Depth Stygimoloch is a dubious genus of pachycephalosaurid dinosaur as many palaeontologists are of the opinion that Stygimoloch represents a juvenile/subadult Pachycephalosaurus. In addition to this another genus named Dracorex has also been perceived to be an even younger Stygimoloch, and it is not out of the question that one day both Stygimoloch and … Read more
In Depth Caribemys is a genus of sea turtle that lived during the late Jurassic. Further Reading - A new pleurodiran turtle from the Jagua Formation (Oxfordian) of western Cuba. Journal of Paleontology 75(4):860-869. - M. S. de la Fuente & M. Iturralde-Vinent - 2001.
In Depth At over six meters long Saichania is one of the larger known ankylosaurids, although in terms of size it would probably be eclipsed by the larger Tarchia which is also known from the same formation, and was actually described at the same time as Saichania. The actual meaning of the name Saichania (beautiful … Read more
In Depth The name Leinkupal means ‘vanishing family’, and this is a reference to the observation that the diplodocid sauropods seemed to have died out during the early Cretaceous. Indeed, at the time of its description, Leinkupal seems to have been one of the last diplodocid sauropods known to live, though other types of sauropods, … Read more