|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Jul 22, 2024 8:52:12 GMT
Name: Acrophoca Pronunciation: Ack-row-fow-cah Meaning of name: "Extreme seal". Also known as the 'Swan-necked seal'. Species: A. longirostrisSize: 1.5 metres long Family: Monachinae (a subfamily of Phocidae) Diet: Piscivore First fossils found: Known from numerous specimens discovered in the Pisco Formation of Peru and the Bahía Inglesa Formation of Chile. Named in 1981. Unlike its descendants, Acrophoca wasn't as well adapted to swimming as it possessed less developed flippers and a less streamlined neck. This suggests it inhabited nearshore waters rather than the open ocean. Lived: 7.2 to 5.3 million years ago during the Tortonian and Messinian stages of the Late Miocene in what is now Chile and Peru. Artist's impression of A. longirostris
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Jul 23, 2024 10:02:52 GMT
Name: Calippus Pronunciation: Cah-lip-pus Meaning of name: "Irregular horse" Species: C. maccartyi, C. elachistus, C. cerasinus, C. placidus, C. martini, C. regulus Size: Depending on species, weighed between 49 and 132kgs. Family: Equinae (a subfamily of Equidae) Diet: Herbivore First fossils found: Known from numerous specimens discovered in Central America and the eastern United States. C. placidus named by American palaeontologist, Joseph Mellick Leidy, in 1858. C. elachistus named in 1930. C. martini named in 1936. C. regulus named in 1937. C. cerasinus and C. maccartyi named in 1988. Lived: Depending on species, lived between 16 and 1.8 million years ago from the Burdigalian stage of the Early Miocene through to the Gelasian stage of the Early Pleistocene in what is now Central America and the eastern United States. 3-D model of the skull of C. regulus
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Jul 27, 2024 13:43:00 GMT
Name: Eodicynodon Pronunciation: Ee-oh-die-sy-no-don Meaning of name: "Early dicynodont" or "Primitive dicynodont" Species: E. oosthuizeniSize: 45cm long and 15cm tall. Weight uncertain. Family: Eodicynodontidae Diet: Herbivore First fossils found: Known from numerous specimens discovered in the Abrahamskraal Formation South Africa. Named by palaeontologist, T. H. Barry, in 1974. Currently, Eodicynodon is the oldest and most primitive dicynodont known. Lived: 272 to 250 million years ago from the Roadian stage of the Middle Permian through to the Induan stage of the Early Triassic in what is now South Africa. ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Eodicynodon_BW.jpg)
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Jul 28, 2024 13:35:17 GMT
Name: Nototherium Pronunciation: No-toe-thee-ree-um Meaning of name: "Southern beast" Species: N. inerme, N. watutense, N. mitchelliSize: Depending on species, weighed up to 500kgs. Family: Diprotodontidae Diet: Herbivore First fossils found: Known from numerous specimens discovered in New Guinea and eastern Australia. N. inerme and N. mitchelli named by English biologist, comparative anatomist and palaeontologist, Sir Richard Owen, in 1845. N. watutense named in 1937. Lived: Depending on species, lived between 5.33 million and 11,700 years ago from the Zanclean stage of the Early Pliocene through to the Tarantian stage of the Late Pleistocene in what is now New Guinea and eastern Australia. Artist's impression of N. mitchelli
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Jul 31, 2024 9:38:26 GMT
Name: Cladosictis Pronunciation: Clah-doe-sic-tis Meaning of name: "Branched weasel" Species: C. centralis, C. lustratus, C. defossa, C. patagonica, C. oxyrhynchaSize: Depending on species, measured up to 80cm long. Family: Hathliacynidae Diet: Carnivore First fossils found: Known from several specimens discovered in the Río Frías Formation of Chile and the Chichinales, Cerro Bandera, Santa Cruz and Sarmiento Formations of Patagonia, Argentina. C. oxyrhyncha, C. lustratus, C. defossa and C. patagonica named by Argentine palaeontologist, Florentino Ameghino, in 1887. C. centralis named in 1902. Lived: Depending on species, lived between 21 million and 15.5 million years ago from the Aquitanian stage of the Early Miocene through to the Langhian stage of the Middle Miocene in what is now Chile and Patagonia, Argentina. Partial lower jaw of C. lustratus
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Aug 2, 2024 13:36:22 GMT
Name: Sivacanthion Pronunciation: See-vah-can-thee-on Meaning of name: "Shiva's spiked one", after the Hindu god of destruction. Species: S. complicatusSize: 50cm long Family: Hystricidae Diet: Herbivore First fossils found: Known only from fossils discovered in Pakistan. Named by American palaeontologist, Edwin H. Colbert, in 1933. Currently, Sivacanthion is the oldest recognizable porcupine, though its anatomy suggests it's not a direct ancestor. Lived: 13.7 to 11.1 million years ago from the Serravallian stage of the Middle Miocene through to the Tortonian stage of the Late Miocene in what is now Pakistan. ![](https://i.ibb.co/S0tQxVj/Sivacanthion.webp)
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Aug 3, 2024 10:50:52 GMT
Name: Homalodotherium Pronunciation: Ho-mah-low-doe-thee-ree-um Meaning of name: "Even-toothed beast" Species: H. excursum, H. segoviae, H. canepai, H. crassum, H. cunninghamiSize: Depending on species, measured around 2 metres long and weighing 300kgs. Family: Homalodotheriidae Diet: Herbivore First fossils found: Known from several specimens discovered in the Río Frías Formation of Chile and the Santa Cruz Formation of southern Patagonia, Argentina. H. cunninghami named by English biologist and anthropologist, Thomas Henry Huxley, in 1870. H. segoviae named in 1891. H. excursum and H. crassum named in 1894. H. canepai named in 1941. Lived: Depending on species, lived between 16.3 and 15.5 million years ago from the Burdigalian stage of the Early Miocene through to the Langhian stage of the Middle Miocene in what is now Chile and southern Patagonia, Argentina. Skeletal mount of H cunninghami at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Aug 5, 2024 10:12:23 GMT
Name: Euprox Pronunciation: Ee-you-prox Meaning of name: "Truly nearest" Species: E. altus, E. dicranocerus, E. furcatus, E. grandis, E. margaritae, E. minimus, E. robustus Size: Depending on species, measured up to 1.4 metres long, 1 metre tall and weighing between 30 and 70kgs. Family: Cervidae Diet: Herbivore First fossils found: Known from numerous specimens discovered in China, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Germany. E. dicranocerus named in 1839. E. furcatus originally named Prox in 1859, however, it was renamed in 1928, as the original name had already been given to another animal. Was also thought to have been a species of Dicroceras. E. minimus named in 1884. E. margaritae named in 1983. E. robustus named in 2003. E. altus named in 2011. E. grandis named in 2015. Euprox is one of the earliest deer species known to have had true antlers. Lived: Depending on species, lived between 15.97 and 5.333 from the Langhian stage of the Middle Miocene through to the Messinian stage of the Late Miocene in what is now China, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Germany. ![](https://uchytel.com/image/cache/catalog/Euprox-797x638.jpg)
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Aug 6, 2024 8:22:34 GMT
Name: Prorastomus Pronunciation: Pro-ras-toe-mus Meaning of name: "Prow mouth", in reference to its lower jaw resembling the prow of a wherry (a type of light rowboat). Species: P. sirenoidesSize: 1.5 metres long Family: Prorastomidae Diet: Herbivore First fossils found: Known from fossils discovered in Jamaica. Named by English biologist, comparative anatomist and palaeontologist, Sir Richard Owen, in 1855. Prorastomus and its close relative, Pezosiren, are the oldest known sirenians. Lived: 40 million years ago during the Bartonian stage of the Middle Eocene in what is now Jamaica. ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Prorastomus_BW.jpg)
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Aug 7, 2024 10:07:18 GMT
Name: Cuvieronius Pronunciation: Coo-vee-air-on-ee-us Meaning of name: "From Cuvier", after French naturalist and zoologist, Georges Cuvier. Species: C. hyodon, C. arellanoi, C. tarijensis, C. tropicus, C. oligobunism, C. priestleyiSize: 3 metres long, 2.3 metres tall and weighing 3.5 metric tonnes. Family: Gomphotheriidae Diet: Herbivore First fossils found: Known from several specimens discovered in Mexico, Argentina and the southwestern and southeastern United States. C. hyodon originally named as a species of Mastotherium in 1814, before being renamed by American palaeontologist, Henry Fairfield Osborn, in 1923. C. tropicus named in 1884. C. oligobunis named in 1893. C. priestleyi named in 1930. C. arellanoi named in 1970. C. tarijensis named in 1995. Lived: Depending on species, lived between 5.332 million and 12,000 years ago from the Zanclean stage of the Early Pliocene through to the Tarantian stage of the Late Pleistocene in what is now Mexico, Argentina and the southwestern and southeastern United States. C. hyodon skull
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Aug 8, 2024 11:06:11 GMT
Name: Hoplitomeryx Pronunciation: Hop-lee-toe-meh-ricks Meaning of name: "Helmeted antelope" Species: H. matthei, H. minutus, H. apruthiensis, H. magnus, H. falcidens, H. apulicus Size: Depending on species, stood up to 1 metre tall. Family: Hoplitomerycidae Diet: Herbivore First fossils found: Known from several specimens discovered in southern Italy. H. matthei named by J. J. M. Leinders in 1984. H. minutus, H. apruthiensis, H. magnus, H. falcidens and H. apulicus named by P. P. A. Mazza and M. Rustioni in 2011. Lived: Depending on species, lived between 11.63 and 3.6 million years ago from the Tortonian stage of the Late Miocene through to the Zanclean stage of the Early Pliocene in what is now southern Italy. ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Hoplitomeryx_Gargano_fauna.jpg)
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Aug 9, 2024 12:54:41 GMT
Name: Dentaneosuchus Pronunciation: Den-tah-nee-oh-soo-kus Meaning of name: "Showing teeth crocodile" or "Frightful crocodile" Species: D. crassiproratusSize: Uncertain due to a lack of fossils, but is estimated to have measured around 5 metres long. Family: Sebecidae Diet: Carnivore First fossils found: Known only from a partial skull, an almost complete humerus, a single vertebra, a partial ischium and some osteoderms, discovered in the Sables du Castrais Formation of southern France. Originally named Atacisaurus by Gaston Astre in 1931 before being renamed as a species of Iberosuchus by M. Godinot, H. P. Labarrère, J. Erfurt, J. L. Franzen, B. Lange-Badré, F. D. Lapparent de Broin and D. Vidalenc in 2018. During the late 1990s, Atacisaurus was deemed to be a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application. Eventually recognized as a new genus and named Dentaneosuchus by J. E. Martin, Y. Pochat-Cottilloux, E. Robert, P. O. Antoine, Y. Laurent and V. Perrier in 2023. Lived: 41.2 to 37.71 million years ago during the Bartonian stage of the Middle Eocene in what is now southern France. ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Dentaneosuchus.png/1920px-Dentaneosuchus.png)
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Aug 10, 2024 10:57:38 GMT
Name: Wellnhoferia Pronunciation: Welln-hoff-eh-ree-ah Meaning of name: Named after German palaeontologist, Peter Wellnhofer. Species: W. grandisWingspan: 0.5 metres Family: Archaeopterygidae Diet: Carnivore First fossils found: Known from fossils discovered in southern Germany. First discovered sometime during the 1960s. Named by Andrzej Elżanowski in 2001. Was originally thought to be a species of Archaeopteryx. Lived: 150 million years ago during the Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic in what is now southern Germany. W. grandis fossil
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Aug 11, 2024 12:17:25 GMT
Name: Paranthropus Pronunciation: Pah-ran-throw-pus Meaning of name: "Almost an ape" Species: P. robustus, P. boisei, P. aethiopicusSize: Depending on gender and species, stood between 1 and 1.3 metres tall and weighing between 32 and 50kgs. Family: Homininae (a subfamily of Hominidae) Diet: Herbivore First fossils found: Known from several specimens discovered in southern and eastern Africa. P. robustus named by British-South African palaeontologist, Robert Broom, in 1938. P. boisei named by Kenyan-British palaeoanthropologist and archaeologist, Louis S. B. Leakey, in 1959. P. aethiopicus named by French palaeontologists, Camille Arambourg and Yves Coppens, in 1968. Lived: Depending on species, lived between 2.9 and 1.2 million years ago from the Piacenzian stage of the Late Pliocene through to the Calabrian stage of the Middle Pleistocene in what is now southern and eastern Africa. P. boisei skull
|
|
|
Post by Talira Greycrest on Aug 12, 2024 9:48:23 GMT
Name: Ticinosuchus Pronunciation: Tee-see-no-soo-kus Meaning of name: "Ticino crocodile", after a river in Switzerland. Species: T. feroxSize: 3 metres long Family: Uncertain Diet: Carnivore/piscivore First fossils found: Known from numerous specimens discovered in Italy and Switzerland. Named by B. Krebs in 1965. Ticinosuchus is thought to be closely related to or possibly the same species as Cheirotherium ("Hand beast"), fossils of which have been discovered in Germany. Lived: 247 to 242 million years ago during the Anisian stage of the Middle Triassic in what is now Italy, Switzerland and possibly Germany. T. ferox skeleton
|
|