In Depth Qiupanykus is a genus of alvarezasurid dinosaur that lived in Asia towards the end of the Cretaceous. Eggs of oviraptorid dinosaurs found near the holotype skeleton of Qiupanykus have led the describers of the genus that maybe Qiupanykus, and perhaps other alvarezsaurs, used the stout claws on their forelimbs to punch holes in … Read more
In Depth Tangvayosaurus is a genus of titanosaurid dinosaur that lived in what is now Laos during the early Cretaceous. Named from partial remains, fossils from a species of the Titanosaurus genus, ‘Titanosaurus’ falloti that is known from the same fossil bearing Formation that the Tangvayosaurus holotype fossils are known from, however some paleontologsts have … Read more
In Depth Kaijiangosaurus is only known from very fragmentary remains, so it is difficult to establish exactly where it belongs in relation with other dinosaurs. Further remains have been attributed to the genus but are currently undescribed, but some palaeontologists have leaned towards a classification within the Megalosauridae (the theropod dinosaur group typified by Megalosaurus). … Read more
In Depth Halszkaraptor is without doubt one of the most interesting dromaeosaurid dinosaurs ever discovered. Although a dromaeosaurid dinosaur, Halszkaraptor seems to have lived more like a modern day semi aquatic bird. Halszkaraptor could still walk about on land, the rear legs were easily strong enough for this. But the tail was not stiffened like … Read more
In Depth Fossils of Cruxicheiros were first discovered in 1960 when they were discovered in the Cross Hand Quarry of Warwickshire, which as you have no doubt already realised is the inspiration for the name Cruxicheiros which means ‘Cross Hand’. At the time the fossils were just lumped in with Megalosaurus, which has for a … Read more
In Depth Named after the Mapuche word for the Colorado River (Muyelen) Muyelensaurus was a genus of titanosaur that lived in Argentina during the Coniacian of the Cretaceous. Muyelensaurus is notable by being a particularly gracile genus of titanosaur. Further Reading A new titanosaur sauropod from the Late Cretaceous of Neuqu�n, Patagonia, Argentina. - Arquivos … Read more
In Depth The description of Loricosaurus was first based upon the discovery of osteoderm armour that was initially perceived to have come from an ankylosaur. Later it was realised that these osteoderms actually came from a titanosaur, however, by themselves they are not very diagnostic of a distinct genus, which is why Loricosaurus is widely … Read more
In Depth At eight meters long Rocasaurus was actually quite small for a sauropod, though it still would have been one of the larger dinosaurs on the landscapes of late Cretaceous Argentina. However if the holotype is correctly interpreted as that of a juvenile, then adults of the genus would have certainly grown larger. Another … Read more
In Depth As a coelophysid, Lucianovenator was a small predatory dinosaur similar in form to other genera such as Camposaurus and Coelophysis. Lucianovenator would have been a predator of small creatures such as lizards and possibly scavenging carrion when available. Lucianovenator shared the same habitat with the dinosaurs Ingentia and Leyesaurus, while other creatures such … Read more
In Depth Procompsognathus has often been recreated in popular science work about dinosaurs where it is usually depicted as a very small bipedal theropod dinosaur. However since the initial description of the holotype fossils, further specimens have been referred to the genus, though these are controversial fossils that are widely seen as not belonging to … Read more