Whilst on a brief visit to the National Museum of Wales (Cardiff), an Everything Dinosaur team member spotted a model of the famous “first bird” Archaeopteryx. One of the unusual features of many museums is the lack of lighting in the galleries. Try as we might, we could not get a good photograph of this Archaeopteryx (A. lithographica) replica. We have posted up the best image that we could get of this important animal, fossils of which have been subject to scientific scrutiny for over 150 years.
The Archaeopteryx Model Spotted in the National Museum of Wales
An Archaeopteryx (A. lithographica) model on display.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Behind the carefully crafted and approximately life-sized model, there is a representation of a typical Archaeopteryx fossil specimen from the Solnhofen limestone. We suspect that the fossil replica is a representation of the famous “Berlin specimen”, which remains one of the most complete fossil specimens of the “Urvogel” known to science.
Isisfordia molnari – A New Species of Australian Crocodile from the Cretaceous
Researchers from the University of New England (New South Wales), Queensland University and the Australian Opal Centre have described a new species of prehistoric crocodile. The Cretaceous-aged croc has been named Isisfordia molnari, it is the second species described within the Isisfordia genus, both are known from Australia, although I. duncani, which was named in 2006, heralds from the Winton Formation of Queensland, whilst the new species I. molnari, comes from the geologically younger Griman Creek Formation of New South Wales.
Isisfordia molnari
A Life Reconstruction of the Newly Described Prehistoric Crocodile Isisfordia molnari
Isisfordia molnari life reconstruction. A wading sauropod has nothing to fear from I. molnari.
Picture credit: José Vitor Silva
Honouring Ralph Molnar
The trivial name honours vertebrate palaeontologist Ralph Molnar, in recognition of his contribution to the research on crocodylomorphs from Gondwana. Molnar was one of the researchers responsible for the naming of Isisfordia duncani back in 2006.
The new species has been erected based on a partial braincase and a fragment of jawbone (maxilla). Both fossils have been opalised and come from the Lightning Ridge area, but their exact provenance remains uncertain. The fossil jaw fragment had previously been designated as the holotype of Crocodylus (Bottosaurus) selaslophensis, but has, following a review, been assigned to this new species. This piece of jawbone complete with six teeth in situ had been donated to the Australian Museum in 1914. The partial braincase is probably a much more recent find, it was purchased by the Australian Museum in the early part of this century.
Photographs and Line Drawings of the Braincase of Isisfordia molnari
Photographs and line drawings of the braincase of Isisfordia molnari. (A, B) dorsal, (C, D) ventral, (E, F) caudal, (G, H) rostral, (I, J) right lateral and (K, L) left lateral views.
Picture credit: PeerJ
The Fragment of Upper Jawbone Assigned to the Newly Erected Species (I. molnari)
A fragment of jawbone now assigned to Isisfordia molnari. Arrows indicate rostral end ((A) medial, (B) lateral, (C) palatal views).
Picture credit: PeerJ
The scientific paper: “Isisfordia molnari sp. nov., a new basal eusuchian from the mid-Cretaceous of Lightning Ridge, Australia” by Lachlan J. Hart, Phil R. Bell, Elizabeth T. Smith and Steven W. Salisbury published in PeerJ.
Dinosaur Drawings and Letters from Year 2 (Great Wood Primary School)
Our thanks to the budding scientists at Great Wood Primary School in Morecambe (Lancashire), who sent into our offices some wonderful dinosaur illustrations and a set of beautifully written letters explaining how much they enjoyed their recent dinosaur workshop with one of our team members. As part of our extension activity suggestions with the Year 2 classes we challenged them to design their very own prehistoric animal. We received lots of amazing dinosaur designs.
Dinosaur Illustrations
A Selection of Letters from the Children – Some Featured Illustrations of Imaginary Prehistoric Animals
A selection of letters received from the eager young palaeontologists at Great Wood Primary School (Morecambe, Lancashire).Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Writing Thank You Letters
The teachers very kindly sent in thank you letters that the children had written. Writing a thank you letter to Everything Dinosaur is a great way for the teaching team to check learning and understanding following a recounting activity. This letter writing exercise helps young learners practice sentence sequencing, planning their composition, as well as spelling and the layout and format of a letter. The children can also read their letters out aloud as part of a further teaching activity within the classroom.
A Very Colourful Dinosaur Design with Lots of Wonderful Labels
A very colourful prehistoric animal produced by a Year 2 child at Great Wood Primary School (Morecambe).Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Children Produced Letters and Drawings
Jessica’s dinosaur drawing and letter (Year 2 at Great Wood Primary School).Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We try to provide additional teaching resources when we visit a school to deliver a dinosaur themed workshop. In addition, during our workshop with the class the opportunity often arises to challenge the children to produce a piece of work, such as their very own dinosaur design or to write a thank you letter. In this way, we are providing extension ideas to the teaching team and supporting the teacher’s scheme of work.”
A Very Spiky Dinosaur Design
Stacy chose to draw a green, armoured dinosaur with a very spiky tail. One of the splendid dinosaur illustrations. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Our Thanks to the Schoolchildren
Our thanks once again to the teaching team and the children in Year 2 at Great Wood Primary School for taking the time and trouble to send into us examples of their work. Congratulations to you all!
Dinosaurs with Spiky Tails was a Common Characteristic Amongst the Children’s Dinosaur Designs
A colourful dinosaur drawing from Alice in Year 2 at Great Wood Primary School).Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
More pictures have been sent into Everything Dinosaur showing how a prehistoric animal model can be made into a truly unique piece. Our thanks once again to model and figure collector Elizabeth who gave us access to some photographs of her recently customised CollectA Edaphosaurus model. Having purchased the figure from Everything Dinosaur, the model was dispatched to professional model maker Martin Garratt for a custom makeover. We think the results are awesome!
The Customised CollectA Edaphosaurus Model
A customised CollectA Edaphosaurus replica.
Picture credit: Elizabeth
Edaphosaurus Model Presented on a Base
As well as carrying out a spectacular paintjob on the figure, Martin has constructed a base complete with representatives of Permian vegetation to help make this herbivorous synapsid feel at home.
Fine Details on the Custom-made Base (CollectA Edaphosaurus)
A customised CollectA Edaphosaurus replica. A clear view of the fine detailing on the base.
Picture credit: Elizabeth
Presenting a prehistoric animal figure on a base allows the model maker to add an extra dimension to the project and provides fine details and finishing touches.
A View of the Skilfully Painted Tail of the Edaphosaurus Model
A customised CollectA Edaphosaurus replica. A close-up view of the tail.
Picture credit: Elizabeth
Commenting on her figure, collector Elizabeth stated:
“I love the way Martin [Martin Garratt] graded the colour on the tail.”
Painting the Throat of a Pelycosaur
CollectA have stated that they intend to introduce more models of animals that lived during the Palaeozoic into their figure range. The Edaphosaurus follows on from a beautifully crafted Dimetrodon figure that came out last year. Thanks to Elizabeth’s photographs we can all appreciate the work that has gone into creating this stunning Edaphosaurus.
A View of the Carefully Painted Throat of the CollectA Edaphosaurus Model
A customised CollectA Edaphosaurus replica. A closer view of that beautifully painted throat that really brings out the detailed scales on the CollectA figure.
Picture credit: Elizabeth
Model collector Elizabeth added:
“I tried to get underneath him to show the lovely work on his throat and the spots on his cheek”.
Your efforts are greatly appreciated, these close-up views highlight the excellent brush work as well as showcasing the wonderful scale texture that CollectA have incorporated into their model.
The CollectA Model Viewed from the Side
A customised CollectA Edaphosaurus replica. Note the washes used to highlight the sail and to provide a wet-look to the model.
Picture credit: Elizabeth
The Off-the-Shelf CollectA Edaphosaurus Model
The CollectA 1:20 scale Edaphosaurus model.
Our thanks once again to Elizabeth for sharing her pictures of the customised Edaphosaurus with us. To view the CollectA Edaphosaurus and other prehistoric animal figure models in this series: CollectA Prehistoric Life Figures and Replicas.
At Everything Dinosaur, we try our best to keep model collectors and fans of dinosaur figures up to date with developments in the industry. One of the most eagerly anticipated dinosaur models in years, the limited-edition Papo Spinosaurus, has been subject to further delays and it is not likely to be in stock until October (October 2019).
The Limited-edition Papo Spinosaurus – Expected October 2019
The limited-edition Papo Spinosaurus is now expected in October 2019.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Papo Spinosaurus in Stock October 2019
At a recent meeting with senior Papo team members, Everything Dinosaur pressed for an update on the new for 2019 prehistoric animal figures due to be added to the company’s “Les Dinosaures” range. Prior to this most recent meeting, Everything Dinosaur had been informed that this figure was due to be launched in August/September. We put out a release about this at the beginning of this month (June 2019), however, according to the latest information, the figure’s production and painting has been subject to further delays and this figure is not due to be released until October.
Papo Spinosaurus – An Eagerly Anticipated Dinosaur Model
Papo Spinosaurus spotted at a trade show. Papo Spinosaurus (limited edition dinosaur model).Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We are working closely with Papo to ensure that production of these figures runs as smoothly as possible, Papo want to produce a truly spectacular dinosaur model and have been working hard to manage the production process. As soon as we have further information about this eagerly anticipated prehistoric animal replica we will ensure that this information is posted up onto this blog and our various other social media platforms.”
Production Samples
During a very productive meeting with Papo, a number of important issues were discussed. It is likely that the first production samples will be available late July, these will come straight from the factory and team members at Everything Dinosaur will be able to examine them and to post up further information and pictures. At least that is the plan, but with a complicated large figure such as this Spinosaurus (it measures more than forty centimetres in length), some further delays could occur.
We are able to confirm that this figure will be provided in a special presentation box and the model will stand nearly seventeen centimetres tall (measuring the height of the sail).
Tale of the Tape the Papo Spinosaurus
The actual Papo Spinosaurus (S. aegyptiacus) measurements are:
length = 40.3 cm, width 10.5 cm and height (height of sail) 16.5 cm.
The new colour variant Papo Stegosaurus model is expected to arrive at the Everything Dinosaur warehouse very shortly, with the Pentaceratops and the Gorgosaurus models to follow later.
Reports have been circulating from a number of Chinese media outlets concerning the discovery of an extensive fossil bed containing the remains of numerous dinosaurs in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality. The fossil site has been known about for several years but there have been a number of reports this week circulating, hinting at the extent of the fossil discovery and indeed, suggesting that it is very likely that as a result of excavation work, new species of dinosaur will be named and described.
An Extensive Dinosaur Bonebed
Excavating an extensive fossil deposit.
Picture credit: VCG
The photograph (above), shows a Chinese field team member working on the “wall of dinosaur fossils”. The site of the fossil find is described as a location close to Laojun village, Pu’an town, in Yunyang county.
A New Dinosaur Species
The press reports state that scientists have identified different types of dinosaurs including theropods and basal ornithopods. The disarticulated remains represent a bone accumulation and the strata is reported to be around 174 million years old (Aalenian faunal stage of the Middle Jurassic). Commentators have described these fossil beds as very significant and likely to lead to the naming of new dinosaur species.
An Illustration of a Typical Basal Ornithopod
A typical example of a basal ornithopod. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Four Thousand Individual Fossil Pieces
The mixed fossil assemblage has already provided researchers with around 4,000 pieces of dinosaur bone to study, since the site was first explored and mapped in 2017.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“The site has been described as exceeding 150 metres in length with at least 17 distinct assemblages of fossils within it. Not much is known about the dinosaur biota from the earliest stages of the Middle Jurassic. Once all the bones have been removed, prepared and studied it is very likely that several new species of dinosaur will be announced. These dinosaurs will help palaeontologists to map the radiation and dispersal of several key groups of dinosaurs that were to dominate terrestrial ecosystems for the remainder of the Jurassic.”
The extensive fossil material could become China’s equivalent of America’s Dinosaur Monument in Utah. The Dinosaur Monument represents a congregation of dinosaur fossils that accumulated in a river deposit. Whilst similarities can be drawn between the two sites, the Chongqing Municipality deposits are approximately 25 million years older.
Perhaps, this could be China’s second “Great Wall”.
An scientific paper published in the academic journal “Cretaceous Research” details the remarkable discovery of a huge elasmosaurid plesiosaur from Upper Cretaceous deposits located on Seymour Island in Antarctica. The specimen, ascribed to the Aristonectes genus is estimated to have measured around 11 metres in length and could have weighed as much as fifteen tonnes. The strata from which the fossil material was collected is believed to have been laid down towards the end of the Cretaceous, thus this fossil discovery indicates that very large elasmosaurs were around towards the very end of the Mesozoic.
A Life Reconstruction of a Typical Elasmosaurid Marine Reptile
Late Cretaceous elasmosaurid from Seymour Island (Antarctica).
The image (above) shows an elasmosaur model from the Safari Ltd range.
Seymour Island – Helping to Map Marine Fauna at the Very End of the Cretaceous
The exposed sediments on the inhospitable and remote Seymour Island provide palaeontologists with the opportunity to study life that existed at the very end of the age of dinosaurs and the sequence of exposed rocks covers the transition from the end Cretaceous extinction event into the Palaeogene. The occurrence of this specimen, located approximately 2.3 metres or less below the Cretaceous-Palaeogene (K/Pg) boundary, suggests the persistence of these types of plesiosaurs (aristonectines), at high latitudes and also it verifies their chronostratigraphical distribution until the end Cretaceous, before the mass extinction the resulted in the loss of all marine reptiles with the exception of marine turtles.
This is not the first giant, marine reptile to be found on Seymour Island…
The fossil material (MLP 89-III-3-1), consisting of disarticulated post-cranial elements most probably representing an individual animal, comes from the uppermost Maastrichtian levels of the López de Bertodano Formation, Seymour Island (sometimes referred to as Marambio Island), Antarctica. The research team members conclude that this specimen is amongst the largest elasmosaurids known.
A field team found the first evidence of this animal back in 1989, but at the time, the team lacked the resources to excavate the specimen. Subsequent expeditions to the fossil site in 2005, 2012 and 2017 led to the removal of some 800 kilograms of fossil bones.
Large Elasmosaurids Thrived in High Latitudes at the End of the Cretaceous
Elasmosaurs illustrated. Large elasmosaurids persisted at high latitudes (Antarctica and within the Arctic Circle).
Picture credit: James Havens
A “Weird Plesiosaur”
Co-author of the scientific paper, José O’Gorman of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina, commented that for years the researchers were not sure whether the fossils represented an elasmosaurid or something else, the animal is described as a “weird plesiosaur.”
The large size of this specimen coupled with the giant mosasaur fossils known from this locality suggest that these waters were highly productive and able to support a variety of megafauna. These conditions are likely to have persisted until the K/Pg mass extinction. Although, the animal has not been given a formal, binomial scientific name, the researchers conclude that it has affinities with the Aristonectinae, a sub-family within the Elasmosauridae.
The scientific paper: “A giant elasmosaurid (Sauropterygia; Plesiosauria) from Antarctica: New information on elasmosaurid body size diversity and aristonectine evolutionary scenarios” by J.P. O’Gorman, S. Santillana, R. Otero and M. Reguero published in the journal Cretaceous Research.
Tyrannosaurs Had Their Noses in Front When it Came to Sense of Smell
A team of scientists from University College Dublin have built upon the idea put forward in earlier research indicating that many dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex had an impressive sense of smell. In a recently published paper, the scientists examined the sense of smell of a wide range of living and extinct archosaurs and concluded that many different dinosaurs had an excellent olfactory sense but the tyrannosaurs probably had one of the keenest senses of smell amongst the Dinosauria.
New Study Confirms T. rex Had a Powerful Sense of Smell
Up close to Tyrannosaurus rex. It could smell you probably before it could see you.
Olfactory Bulb Ratios
The brains of long extinct animals, like most soft tissues, are poor candidates for fossilisation, the size and the shape of an extinct animal’s brain can be inferred by looking at how the skull bones knit together to form the brain case. It is from this data that the size and the proportion of the brain dedicated to processing sensory data such as the sense of smell can be deduced.
It has been stated in the past that approximately 50% of the brain volume of a T. rex was made up of the olfactory bulb, that part of the brain that processes smells. Furthermore, in most modern animals, the size of the brain’s olfactory bulb also correlates with how well they can identify odours. Looking at the ratio between that part of the brain dedicated to processing smells and the size of the entire brain (the olfactory bulb ratio), can also provide evidence as to the ecological niche an animal is likely to have occupied in an ecosystem.
The King of the Tyrant Lizards Top of the Table for Olfactory Abilities Too
Tyrannosaurs had a highly developed sense of smell. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
For example, a bird that hunts in low light levels using scent to find food, is likely to have adapted to its environment very differently from that of a kestrel that hunts in daylight and uses its keen eyesight to spot its prey.
Writing in the journal “Proceedings of the Royal Society B”, Dr John Finarelli and his colleague Graham Hughes (University College Dublin), used the olfactory bulb ratio in living archosaurs (crocodiles and birds) to infer the strength of smell amongst dinosaurs.
Studying Tyrannosaurs
Prior research has shown that the size of the olfactory bulb is related to the number of smell receptor genes in the DNA of a given animal and how much diversity they represent. Taken together, it is called the olfactory repertoire. In this new study, the researchers used the olfactory repertoire of modern birds and an alligator to estimate the olfactory ability of several types of dinosaurs. Based on this innovative research, the scientists concluded that T. rex probably had between 620 and 645 genes encoding its olfactory receptors, a gene count only slightly smaller than those in today’s chickens and domestic cats.
Closely related tyrannosaurs such as Albertosaurus, also had substantial olfactory receptor gene counts. Tyrannosaurs probably had the best sense of smell amongst the Dinosauria, this in turn can lead to inferences about how these theropods lived and behaved.
For example, tyrannosaurs were probably able to “sniff out” prey from far away. They were able to track down the carcass of another dinosaur and scavenge the corpse.
A Good Sense of Smell Has Many Other Uses in the Animal Kingdom
The researchers hope that this new study will not get drawn into the “T. rex a hunter or a scavenger debate”, the authors stress that a good sense of smell has many other uses other than finding food. Many animals use scent to mark and define territory, track down a mate, deter rivals and for intraspecific communication.
The University College Dublin scientists also highlighted a shift in scaling of olfactory bulb ratios to body size along the theropod lineage that led to the evolution of modern birds. The researchers conclude that by combining morphological and genomic data, it can be demonstrated that, while genetic information for extinct taxa is forever lost, it is potentially feasible to investigate evolutionary trajectories in extinct animals.
Amongst Living Vertebrates, It is the Elephant that Tops the Table for the Most Olfactory Receptor Genes
An African elephant (Loxodonta).
Amongst all living vertebrates, the record for the most olfactory receptor genes lies with the modern elephant, a herbivore with about 2,500 such genes. With such an exquisite sense of smell, elephants can “count” quantities of food by odour alone. The researchers looked at a number of different types of dinosaur in their study, sure enough, some plant-eating dinosaurs showed evidence of a greater reliance on smell than some carnivorous dinosaurs. For example, the Late Cretaceous herbivore Erlikosaurus (E. andrewsi), a theropod but a member of the Therizinosauridae had a greater number of projected olfactory receptor genes than Velociraptor and other predatory dromaeosaurids.
The Research Team Assessed Olfactory Bulb Ratio Compared to Body Mass Amongst Living and Extinct Archosaurs
Olfactory bulb ratios amongst living and extinct archosaurs. This new study confirmed earlier research indicating that the tyrannosaurs had a powerful sense of smell.
A team of scientists have described a new species of trilobite and at around thirty centimetres in length, this new species is the largest member of the Trilobita from Australia to have been described to date. Writing in the academic publication, the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, the team consisting of researchers from the University of Adelaide, South Australian Museum and the University of New England describe Redlichia rex and suggest that it probably specialised in attacking and eating smaller trilobites. It might even have been a cannibal!
Redlichia rex
Lead author of the research, James Holmes, a PhD student at the University of Adelaide commented:
“We decided to name this new species of trilobite Redlichia rex (similar to Tyrannosaurus rex) because of its giant size, as well as its formidable legs with spines used for crushing and shredding food, which may have been other trilobites.”
A Life Reconstruction of the Newly Described Trilobite Species Redlichia rex
A life reconstruction of the newly described Redlichia rex trilobite.
Picture credit: Katrina Kenny
An Exceptional State of Preservation
The fossil material comes from an exceptional Lagerstätte known as the Emu Bay Shale on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, these sediments represents shallow sea deposits laid down in the Early Cambrian. Around fifty different species of trilobite have been described from this location. Well-preserved, fully articulated specimens from this deposit are known to reach lengths in excess of 25 centimetres, representing one of the largest known Cambrian trilobites. Until now, all Redlichia specimens from the Emu Bay Shale have been referred to as Redlichia takooensis.
Previous studies recognised considerable differences in exoskeletal shape and morphology among specimens of varying sizes, which were thought to represent different growth stages of the same species (ontogeny). However, close examination of a large collection of recently acquired specimens shows that this variation actually represents two distinct morphs, interpreted by the researchers as representing a distinct and larger species – Redlichia rex.
PhD Student James Holmes with a Fossil of R. rex
PhD student James Holmes and a fossil specimen of Redlichia rex.
Picture credit: University of Adelaide
Redlichia rex – Around 30 cm in Length
Many of the fossils demonstrated an exceptional state of preservation with soft parts such as the antennae and the legs preserved. At around 30 centimetres in length, Redlichia rex is almost twice as big as most other Australian trilobites recorded from Cambrian-aged rocks.
Co-study author, Diego García-Bellido, from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Museum added:
“Interestingly, trilobite specimens from the Emu Bay Shale, including Redlichia rex, exhibit injuries that were caused by shell-crushing predators. There are also large specimens of fossilised poo (coprolites), containing trilobite fragments in this fossil deposit. The large size of injured Redlichia rex specimens and the associated coprolites suggests that either much bigger predators were targeting Redlichia rex, such as Anomalocaris – an even larger shrimp-like creature – or that the new species had cannibalistic tendencies.”
Evidence of an Evolutionary Arms Race
The naming of this new species demonstrates the diversity of the marine biota within this ancient sea environment and supports the idea that one of the principle drivers of the “Cambrian explosion” was the evolutionary “arms race” between predators and prey species. As predators became larger and more efficient hunters, so primary producers and secondary predators developed more effective defences, this in turn led to the evolution of more deadly predator species.
A Fossil Specimen (Redlichia rex)
A near complete specimen of the large Cambrian trilobite Redlichia rex.
Picture credit: University of Adelaide
James Holmes commented:
“The overall size and crushing legs of Redlichia rex are a likely consequence of the arms race that occurred at this time. This giant trilobite was likely the terror of smaller creatures on the Cambrian seafloor.”
Fossils of the amazing Cambrian marine biota including specimens of Redlichia rex are currently on display at the South Australian Museum (Adelaide).
The scientific paper: “The trilobite Redlichia from the lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte of South Australia: systematics, ontogeny and soft-part anatomy” by James D. Holmes, John R. Paterson and Diego C. García-Bellido published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.
Scolomastax sahlsteini – A Fearsome Cretaceous Crocodile Critter
The Woodbine Formation of eastern Texas has provided palaeontologists with another crocodyliform to study. The strata represent sediments laid down in a river delta system during the early stages of the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian faunal stage). The vertebrate fossils found include dinosaurs, turtles, lungfish and several different types of crocodile including the fearsome Deltasuchus (D. motherali), that was named and described in 2017: Deltasuchus – A Dinosaur Crunching Crocodile.
Joining the list of crocodiles known from this location is Scolomastax sahlsteini, a much smaller animal that probably specialised in hunting fish and other small vertebrates. Its discovery reinforces the idea that there was niche partitioning in crocodyliforms associated with these sediments, that is, each genus focused on catching different types of prey and therefore avoided direct interspecific competition.
A Life Reconstruction of Scolomastax sahlsteini
Scolomastax a life reconstruction.
Picture credit: Brenton Adrian (University of Tennessee)
An Insight into the Cretaceous Ecosystem of Appalachia
Scolomastax sahlsteini lived approximately 96 million years ago. It has been described from a partial jawbone and this species differs from other prehistoric crocodyliforms associated with this fossil location in having a shortened mandible, reduced tooth count, heterodonty (teeth of different shapes), a dorsally expanded surangular and enlarged attachments for powerful jaw muscles.
Scolomastax sahlsteini
Scolomastax may have been not much bigger than a dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus spp.), the smallest living crocodile species, but at around 1.5 metres in length, it had a formidable bite and was probably best avoided. Writing in the academic journal “The Anatomical Record”, the researchers conclude that Scolomastax may have specialised in eating shellfish, or turtles (durophagous diet). Scolomastax may even have been an omnivore, supplementing its diet with plant material. The fossils from this location (the Arlington archosaur Site), have provided palaeontologists with an insight into the fauna of the eastern part of the North America (Appalachia).
Commenting on the significance of the discovery, one of the co-authors of the scientific paper, Stephanie Drumheller-Horton, a palaeontologist at the University of Tennessee stated:
“People sometimes think that crocs haven’t changed much since the age of dinosaurs, but that just isn’t true. This little croc has several weird features that make us think it ate hard prey items and maybe even plants. We don’t have anything like it alive in the world today.”
A Geographical Puzzle
Co-author, Associate Professor Alan Turner (Stony Brook University), added:
“S. sahlsteini is part of a group of early croc relatives called paralligatorids. Most members of this group are from Asia, but we are starting to have a few examples of them from Texas. This helps us understand how groups were dispersing between Asia and North America prior to the closing of the Western Interior Seaway, the inland sea that split North America in two.”
The genus name means “pointed stake jaw”, whilst the species epithet honours long-time volunteer Arthur Sahlstein, who found the fossil jawbone. A phylogenetic analysis places this new genus within the Eusuchia, specifically a member of the Paralligatoridae and a sister taxon to Paralligator gradilifrons, which is known from Upper Cretaceous rocks of the Gobi Desert (Mongolia).
Scolomastax sahlsteini extends the record of paralligatorids into the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian faunal stage) of North America. The jawbone fossil represents the first appearance of this clade on the poorly known landmass of Appalachia, supporting a biogeographic connection between North America and Asia in the Early Cretaceous prior to development of the Western Interior Seaway. The authors of the paper conclude that further analysis of the Paralligatoridae family is required in order to determine appropriate phylogeny.
The scientific paper: “An Enigmatic Small Neosuchian Crocodyliform from the Woodbine Formation of Texas” by Christopher R. Noto, Stephanie K. Drumheller, Thomas L. Adams and Alan H. Turner published in The Anatomical Record.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a press release from the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) in the compilation of this article.
