In Depth Initially thought to be one of the most primitive birds in the fossil record, later studies have depicted Jinfengopteryx as a small troodontid theropod dinosaur. This new interpretation has been derived from observation of the form of the skull and the presence of an enlarged sickle claw on the second toe of each … Read more
In Depth Named in 2016 from a single specimen, Viavenator is another of the growing number of South American abelisaurid dinosaurs that are known to us. At a glance Viavenator does not seem to be anything special apart from being another abelisaur, however the authors of the paper describing this dinosaur have identified a combination … Read more
In Depth Yunnanosaurus is one of the best represented sauropodomorph (previously known as prosauropods) dinosaurs not only in China, but the entire world, with the fossils remains of over twenty individual Yunnanosaurus so far known. This has allowed palaeontologists to become familiar with most aspects of this genus including the realisation that Yunnanosaurus would have … Read more
In Depth Despite its appearance in dinosaur documentaries like Dinosaur Planet, not much is known about Tarascosaurus. The type material is very incomplete but has still seen this dinosaur tentatively placed within the Abelisauridae. Aside from Betasuchus, Tarascosaurus is the only representative of this group of theropod dinosaurs which were previously considered to be present … Read more
In Depth The holotype specimen of Scipionyx was first discovered in 1981, though it did not garner wider attention until 1993 when its existence was announced to the wider public. It would not be until 1998 however that the genus and species name Scipionyx samniticus would be created. The holotype was discovered by amateur palaeontologist … Read more
In Depth Shuangbaisaurus is a genus of predatory dinosaur that lived in China during the start of the Jurassic period. Known from a partial skull, there is speculation that Shuangbaisaurus might be synonymous with Sinosaurus. Further Reading - A new crested theropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of Yunnan Province, China. - Vertebrata PalAsiatica 55(2):177-186. … Read more
In Depth Bravasaurus is a genus of titanosaurian dinosaur that lived in South America during the late Cretaceous. While many of the South American titanosaurs such as Argentinosaurus were positive giants, Bravasaurus seems to have been much smaller than most. Bravasaurus was named alongside the genus Punatitan in the same paper in 2020. Further reading … Read more
In Depth The Liliensternus holotype was originally described in 1934 as a species of Halticosaurus by Friedrich von Huene. However a later palaeontologist named Samuel Paul Welles concluded that this species was actually different beyond the species level and created the genus of Liliensternus for it instead. Further complication to the history of the genus … Read more
In Depth If there has ever been a genus that has been a serious source of confusion for people, it’s Scansoriopteryx. We’ll start with the correct name for this genus regarding whether it should be Scansoriopteryx or Epidendrosaurus. We are certain that both of these genera are one and the same and therefore synonymous. However, … Read more
In Depth Named in 2005, Baurutitan seems to have been a fairly large titanosaur that lived in Brazil during the last stage of the Cretaceous. Further Reading - Description of a titanosaurid caudal series from the Bauru Group, Late Cretaceous of Brazil. - Arquivos do Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro 63(3):529-564. - A. W. A. … Read more