In Depth The discovery of Xiaotingia caused some upset in the paleontological community because of its similarities to the world famous Archaeopteryx which has been hailed as the first bird since its discovery in 1861. This is because Xiaotingia is thought to be a dinosaur that is similar to a bird rather than a bird … Read more
In Depth Until 1970, Daspletosaurus was thought to be another specimen of Gorgosaurus. Both were active at the same time and location as one another, yet closer study of the Daspletosaurus revealed a much more powerful animal than the more lightly built Gorgosaurus. It has been surmised that the two predators may have focused their … Read more
In Depth Not much is known about this dinosaur except that the forelimbs appear to be quite large for a large carnivorous theropod. The discoverer theorised that it may of actually been quadrupedal, but this has since been refuted by other palaeontologists. Further Reading – [A new theropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Sichuan … Read more
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 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 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
In Depth Although weathered and not entirely complete, the holotype of Linhevenator is still one of the most complete Late Cretaceous troodontid individuals so far known. Linhevenator is towards the larger end of the known troodontid size range, but its main unique features are its small arms, each with a very robust humerus. This may … Read more