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Post by Talira Greycrest on Sept 3, 2024 10:40:57 GMT
This prehistoric sea snake still has its hind legs: Name: Haasiophis Pronunciation: Ha-see-oh-fiss Meaning of name: "Haas's snake", after Austrian-born Israeli herpetologist, malacologist and palaeontologist, Georg Haas. Species: H. terrasanctusSize: 88cm long Family: Simoliophiidae Diet: Piscivore First fossils found: Known only from a single, almost complete skull and skeleton (missing only the tip of the tail), discovered in the Judaean Mountains on the West Bank of Israel. Named by Eitan Tchernov in 2000. It's one of three genera of Cenomanian snakes known to have possessed hindlimbs. Lived: 99.6 to 93.5 million years ago during the Cenomanian and Turonian stages of the Late Cretaceous in the oceans and shallow seas that once covered what is now Israel. Artist's impression of Haasiophis
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Post by Talira Greycrest on Sept 4, 2024 9:58:36 GMT
Name: Ticinosuchus Pronunciation: Ti-ci-no-soo-kus Meaning of name: "Ticino crocodile", after a river that runs through Italy and Switzerland. Species: T. feroxSize: Estimated to have measured around 3 metres long. Family: Uncertain Diet: Carnivore/piscivore First fossils found: Known only from a small number of fossils discovered in Switzerland and Italy. Named by B. Krebs in 1965. Lived: 247.2 to 242 million years ago during the Anisian stage of the Middle Triassic in what is now Italy and Switzerland. T. ferox skeleton
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Post by Talira Greycrest on Sept 7, 2024 13:05:54 GMT
Name: Moenkopia Pronunciation: Mow-en-ko-pee-ah Meaning of name: "for Moenkopi", after the rock formation where its fossils were discovered. Species: M. wellesiSize: Uncertain due to a lack of fossils. Family: Coelacanthidae Diet: Carnivore First fossils found: Known only from a single, partial skull discovered in the Moenkopi Formation of Arizona. Named by B. Schaeffer and J. T. Gregory in 1961. Lived: 247.2 to 242 million years ago during the Anisian stage of the Middle Triassic in the oceans and shallow seas that once covered what is now the southwestern United States. The Moenkopi Formation of Arizona where the partial skull of Moenkopia was discovered.
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Post by Talira Greycrest on Sept 8, 2024 13:15:43 GMT
Name: Borealestes Pronunciation: Bore-ee-ah-les-teez Meaning of name: "Northern brigand" or "Northern rogue" Species: B. serendipitus, B. cuillinensisSize: Uncertain due to a lack of fossils. Family: Uncertain Diet: Uncertain. Possible omnivore/insectivore. First fossils found: B. cuillinensis known only from a single, partial skull and skeleton. B. serendipitus known from teeth, jaw fragments and a partial skeleton. All known fossils discovered in the Kilmaluag Formation of the Isle of Skye, Scotland. B. serendipitus named by Michael Waldman and Robert J. G. Savage in 1972. B. cuillinensis named by E. Panciroli in 2021. Lived: Depending on species, lived between 168.2 and 165.3 million years ago during the Bathonian stage of the Middle Jurassic in what is now the Isle of Skye, Scotland.
Skeletal diagrams of B. serendipitus (green) and B. cuillinensis (blue)
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Post by Talira Greycrest on Sept 9, 2024 13:01:07 GMT
Name: CastorocaudaPronunciation: Cas-to-ro-caw-dah Meaning of name: "Beaver tail", in reference to its presumed beaver-like tail. Species: C. lutrasimilis Size: Measured around 42cm long and weighing between 500 and 800 grams. Family: Docodontidae Diet: Carnivore First fossils found: Known only from a single, partial skull and partial skeleton discovered in the Haifanggou Formation of Inner Mongolia, northern China. Named by Q. Ji, Z.-X. Luo, C.-X. Yuan & A. R. Tabrum in 2006. Currently, Castorocauda is the largest known Jurassic mammaliaform and also the earliest known mammaliaform with aquatic adaptations or a fur pelt. Lived: 164 million years ago during the Callovian stage of the Middle Jurassic in what is now Inner Mongolia, northern China. Artist's impression of Castorocauda
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Post by Talira Greycrest on Sept 14, 2024 10:27:59 GMT
Name: Lunaspis Pronunciation: Loo-nas-pis Meaning of name: "Moon shield", in reference to the long projections from the head shield which form a crescent moon-like shape. Species: L. heroldi, L. broili, L. pruemiensisSize: Depending on species, measured around 40cm long. Family: Macropetalichthyidae Diet: Carnivore First fossils found: Known from several specimens discovered in Australia, Germany and China. L. pruemiensis named in 1880. L. heroldi named by German palaeontologist, Ferdinand Broili, in 1929. L. broili named in 1937. Lived: Depending on species, lived between 409.1 to 402.5 million years ago during the Pragian and Emsian stages of the Early Devonian in the oceans and shallow seas that once covered parts of what is now China, Germany and Australia. Artist's impression of L. heroldi
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Post by Talira Greycrest on Sept 15, 2024 13:03:26 GMT
Today's entry is a special type of mammal called a monotreme. They're special because they're the only known egg-laying mammals. Name: Dharragarra Pronunciation: Ha-rah-ga-rah Meaning of name: "Platypus", in reference to its resemblance to modern platypus. Species: D. auroraSize: Uncertain due to a lack of fossils. Family: Uncertain. Likely Ornithorhynchid. Diet: Carnivore First fossils found: Known only from a single, partial left lower jaw discovered in the Griman Creek Formation of eastern Australia in 2002. Named by Australian palaeontologist, Tim Flannery, in 2024. Lived: 100.2 to 96.6 million years ago during the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now eastern Australia. Artist's impression of Dharragarra
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