In Depth Archaeornithoides has proven to be a problematic genus since it has been very difficult to ascertain exactly what it was. Only known from partial paired maxilla and dentaries, Archaeornithoides was first considered to be a primitive bird because of what were considered distinct bird-like features. Later discoveries however proved that these distinct bird … Read more
In Depth Originally named as Elaphrosaurus gautieri in 1960, a 2004 analysis of the remains by P. C. Sereno, J. A. Wilson and J. L. Conrad concluded that they belonged to a different genus of dinosaur. Hence forth this fossil material now goes by the name of Spinostropheus based upon the shape of the vertebrae, … Read more
In Depth Magyarosaurus is considered the smallest titanosaur, and is regarded as a fine example of insular dwarfism. This is where animals that live in an area of limited size, such as an island, grow smaller so as not to use up the available food supply. Although some have made the suggestion that Magyarosaurus specimens … Read more
In Depth Oksoko is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in Asia during the late Cretaceous. Further reading - A new two-fingered dinosaur sheds light on the radiation of Oviraptorosauria. - Royal Society Open Science. 7 (10): 201184. - G. F. Funston, C. Tsogtbaatar, K. Tsogtbaatar, Y. Kobayashi, C. Sullivan & P. J. Currie … Read more
In Depth Although based only upon the description of the braincase, it has been enough to not only identify Nebulasaurus as a new eusauropod dinosaur, but also further hints that during the middle Jurassic Asia had a very diverse range of sauropod dinosaurs. By the late Jurassic this diverse range seems to have thinned out … Read more
In Depth Originally attributed as juvenile Saurornithoides mongoliensis, the partial left hind limb of this troodontid was firmly established as being of a different genus thanks to an osteohistological analysis of the bone. This revealed that the fossils were closer to Linhevenator tani, yet the team studying the remains concluded that while similar, the remains … Read more
In Depth First discovered in 1973, Arkansaurus was due to be formally named in 1977, tragically however the papers author Dr. James H. Quinn was killed in a fall while searching for fossils. Because the paper was not formally published, the name Arkansaurus was technically not valid. The name Arkansaurus however was not unknown and … Read more
In Depth Named after a village near the location of the fossil site, Rahiolisaurus is still a surprisingly little known abelisaurid at the time of writing, despite it being around eight meters long. The fossils of this abelisaurid were originally considered to be remains of another abelisaurid named Indosuchus. As a large abelisaurid, Rahiolisaurus would … 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 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