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Blackhawk Ranch Fossil Quarry Part I

October 12, 2019, 6:59 pm
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Blackhawk Ranch Fossil Quarry Part I

Type Horizon and Locality: Miocene, Green Valley Formation (Late Clarendonian), Contra Costa County, California, US

A rich Miocene fauna of terrestrial vertebrates have been discovered at the Blackhawk Ranch fossil quarry located on the lower slopes of Mount Diablo, California. The fossils were first studied in the 1930s and contain more than 20 different species. The illustration shows:

Alforjas magnifontis (Gregory, 1939), a camel
Borophagus littoralis Vanderhoof, 1931, a bone-crushing dog
Barbourofelis loveorum Baskin, 1981, a saber-tooth cat
Woodburnehyus grenaderae Prothero & Pollen, 2013, a peccary
Ustatochoerus major (Leidy, 1858), an oreodont
Hipparion forcei Richey, 1948, a horse
Gomphotherium obscurum Leidy, 1869, a mastodont


October 12, 2019

References:



All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Ustatochoerus major

October 12, 2019, 9:03 pm
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Ustatochoerus major (Leidy, 1858)

Systematics:  Mammalia Artiodactyla Tylopoda Merycoidodontidae
Size: 0.9 m long
Type Horizon and Locality: Miocene, Loop Fork Formation (Late Clarendonian) Sheridan County, Nebraska, US
Type Specimen: NM 439, partial right maxilla

This oreodont (a group of completely extinct even-toed ungulates) was originally described as a species of the genus Merychyus. Fossils of this animal have been found in Late Miocene layers at several places in North America from California to Texas.

October 12, 2019

References:

J. Leidy. 1858. Notice of Remains of Extinct Vertebrata, from the Valley of the Niobrara River, Collected during the Exploring Expedition of 1857, in Nebraska, under the Command of Lieut. G. K. Warren, U. S. Top. Eng., by Dr. F. V. Hayden, Geologist to the Expedition. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 10:15-89




All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Woodburnehyus grenaderae

October 12, 2019, 9:12 pm
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Woodburnehyus grenaderae Prothero & Pollen, 2013

Systematics:  Mammalia Artiodactyla Tayassuidae
Size: 0.9 m long
Type Horizon and Locality: Miocene, Green Valley Formation (Late Clarendonian) Contra Costa County, California, US
Type Specimen: UCMP 74812, partial skull

This ancient peccary found at the Blackhawk Ranch quarry at the foot of Mount Diablo, in California, sported some bizarre protrusions on the cheeks (they were however less pronounced than in the related genus Skinnerhyus).

October 12, 2019

References:

D. R. Prothero and A. Pollen. 2013. New Late Miocene Fossil Peccaries From California and Nebraska. Kirtlandia 58:42-53





All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Barbourofelis loveorum

October 12, 2019, 9:22 pm
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Barbourofelis loveorum Baskin, 1981

Systematics:  Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Barbourofelidae
Size: 1.8 m long
Type Horizon and Locality: Miocene, Alachua Formation (Late Clarendonian) Alachua County, Florida, US
Type Specimen: UF 24447, partial skeleton

This false saber-tooth cat was the size of a lion. The species B. loveorum has been found in Late Miocene layers of North America from Florida to California.

October 12, 2019

References:

J. A. Baskin. 1981. Barbourofelis (Nimravidae) and Nimravides (Felidae), with a Description of Two New Species from the Late Miocene of Florida. Journal of Mammalogy 62(1):122-139.


All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Alforjas magnifontis

October 12, 2019, 9:27 pm
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Alforjas magnifontis (Gregory, 1939)

Systematics:  Mammalia Artiodactyla Tylopoda Camelidae
Size: 1.8 m long
Type Horizon and Locality: Miocene, Big Spring Canyon (Late Clarendonian) Bennett County, South Dakota, US
Type Specimen: UCMP 32106, a partial skeleton

This camel was originally described as a species of Pliauchenia.

October 12, 2019

References:

 J. T. Gregory. 1939. Two New Camels from the Late Lower Pliocene of South Dakota. Journal of Mammalogy 20(3):366-368


All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Hipparion forcei

October 12, 2019, 9:39 pm
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Hipparion forcei Richey, 1948

Systematics:  Mammalia Perissodactyla Equidae Equinae Hipparionini
Size: 1.8 m long
Type Horizon and Locality: Miocene, Green Valley Formation (Late Clarendonian) Contra Costa County, California, US
Type Specimen: UCMP 33051, tooth

Another mammal first described from the Black Hawk Ranch quarry at the foot of Mount Diablo, California. Hipparion was related to horses but with two vestigial outer toes in addition to the hoof, on each foot.

October 12, 2019

References:

K. A. Richey. 1948. Lower Pliocene horses from Black Hawk Ranch, Mount Diablo, California. University of California Publications, Bulletin of the Department of Geological Sciences 28(1):1-44


All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Allodelphis woodburnei

October 19, 2019, 6:56 pm
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Allodelphis woodburnei Barnes & Reynolds, 2009

Systematics:  Mammalia Artiodactyla Cetacea Platanistoidea Allodelphinidae
Size: 3 m long
Type Horizon and Locality: Early Miocene, Vaqueros Formation (Arikareean) San Bernardino County, California, US
Type Specimen: SBCM L3210-1, partial skeleton

The superfamily Platanistoidea forms a group of dolphin-like toothed whales consisting of a single modern species, the endangered South Asian River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica). The group used to be more widespread and more diversified in the past classified into up to five families. Allodelphis is a genus of large platanistoids (3-5 m long) from the Early Miocene of the Pacific North West, characterized by a very long rostrum. Two species are recognized, A. pratti and A. woodburnei, both described from California.

October 12, 2019

References:

L. G. Barnes and R. E. Reynolds. 2009. A new species of early Miocene allodelphinid dolphin (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Platanistoidea) from Cajon Pass, Southern California, U.S.A. Museum of Northern Arizona Bulletin 65:483-507

T. Kimura and L. G. Barnes. 2016. New Miocene fossil Allodelphinidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Platanistoidea) from the North Pacific Ocean. Bulletin of the Gunma Museum of Natural History 20:1-58


All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Hesperocetus californicus

October 20, 2019, 10:08 pm
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Hesperocetus californicus True, 1912

Systematics:  Mammalia Artiodactyla Cetacea Inioidea (?)
Size: 3 m long
Type Horizon and Locality: Late Miocene, Upper San Pablo Group (Clarendonian) Contra Costa County, California, US
Type Specimen: UCMP 1352, mandibular fragment and isolated teeth

Hesperocetus ("Western whale")  is a little known toothed whale from the Late Miocene of California. The species Hesperocetus californicus has been described by Frederick W. True in 1912 from a fragmentary mandible and isolated teeth found in marine deposits near the town of Rodeo, on the San Pablo Bay. It is most probably either from the Cierbo or the Neroly Formation of the San Pablo Group. It is generally believed to be related to the modern Amazon River Dolphin, although the remains are too fragmentary to be sure.

October 20, 2019

References:

 F. W. True. 1912. A fossil toothed cetacean from California representing a new genus and species. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collection 60(11):1-7
All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Prodipoides lecontei

November 3, 2019, 6:50 pm
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Prodipoides lecontei (Merriam, 1896)

Systematics:  Mammalia Rodentia Castoridae Castoroidinae
Size: ? 30 cm long
Type Horizon and Locality: Late Miocene, Siesta Formation (Clarendonian) Contra Costa County, California, US
Type Specimen: UCMP 5002, partial skull

Prodipoides lecontei was a small beaver, about half the size of its modern counterpart, that lived during the Late Miocene period in the Western part of North America. The first specimen, a fragmentary skull, was found in the hills between the city of Berkeley and Orinda. Others specimens were found elsewhere in California and Nevada. The species was originally described as Sigmogomphius Le Contei, before being folded into the genus Eucastor. More recently, the genus Eucastor was restricted to the type species E. tortus, while the other species were transferred into a new genus, Prodipoides. Prodipoides did not have the tooth-digging adaptation of Eucastor and modern beavers but was probably semiaquatic as the fossils were found in layers associated to fluviatile environments.

November 3, 2019

References:

Merriam, J. C. (1896). Sigmogomphius Le Contei, a New Castoroid Rodent from the Pliocene, Near Berkeley, California. Bulletin of the Department of Geology, 1(13) 363-370 (University of California Press)

Korth, W. W. (2007). A New Genus of Beaver (Rodentia, Castoridae) from the Miocene (Clarendonian) of North America and Systematics of the Castoroidinae based on Comparative cranial Anatomy. Annals of Carnegie Museum, 76(2), 117-135.

All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Prida Formation

November 10, 2019, 8:13 pm
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Fossil Vertebrates of the Prida Formation of Nevada

Type Horizon and Locality: Middle Triassic, Fossil Hill Member, Prida Formation (Anisian) Nevada, US

Represented here:

Acrodus alexandrae Wemple, 1906, a shark only known from their heterodont teeth. Probably looked similar to Hybodus. Probably bottom sea dweller eating shells.
Cymbospondylus piscosus Leidy, 1868, a large primitive ichthyosaur, top ocean predator of its time. The species C. petrinus and C. grandis are considered synonym to C. piscosus. Reached 9 m in length.
Omphalosaurus nevadanus Merriam, 1906, a rather enigmatic ichthyosaur with highly specialized button-like teeth probably used to crush shells and corals.
Omphalosaurus nettarhynchus Mazin & Bucher, 1987, a smaller species of Omphalosaurus.
Phalarodon fraasi Merriam, 1910, a small ichthyosaur

The Prida formation also contain fossils of two other ichthyosaurians that may be referred to the genera Utatsusaurus and Grippia.


November 10, 2019

References:



All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Riojasaurus incertus

November 23, 2019, 7:11 pm
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Riojasaurus incertus Bonaparte, 1969

Systematics:  Dinosauria Sauropodomorpha Massopoda Riojasauridae
Size: 4 m long
Type Horizon and Locality: Late Triassic, Los Colorados Formation, Agua de la Peña Group (Norian) La Rioja Province, Argentina
Type Specimen: PVL 3808, partial skeleton

Riojasaurus was one of the first heavily built sauropodomorphs. It is generally represented as a quadrupedal animal but it was more probably bipedal.

November 23, 2019

References:

Bonaparte, J. F., & Pumares, J. A. (1995). Notas sobre el primer craneo de Riojasaurus incertus (Dinosauria, Prosauropoda, Melanorosauridae) del Triásico superior de La Rioja, Argentina. Ameghiniana, 32(4), 341-349.
All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Fossil Vertebrates of the Lower Maleri Formation of India

February 2, 2020, 8:17 pm
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Fossil Vertebrates of the Lower Maleri Formation of India


Type Horizon and Locality: Late Triassic, Lower Maleri Formation (Carnian) Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, India

Represented here:

Alwalkeria maleriensis (Chatterjee, 1987), a small dinosaur known from incomplete remains, possibly a basal Saurischian.
Exaeretodon statisticae Chatterjee, 1982, a large herbivorous traversodont cynodont. The genus is also found in Brazil and Argentina. The species E. statisticae is known from a fragmentary skull.
Hyperodapedon huxleyi (Lydekker, 1881), a rhynchosaur. The genus is largely distributed in South and North America, Africa, Asia and Europe. The Indian species H. huxleyi was originally placed in the genus Paradapedon.
Malerisaurus robinsonae Chatterjee, 1980, a probably insectivorous protorosaur. Remains have been found as the last meal of the phytosaur Parasuchus hislopi.
Parasuchus hislopi Lydekker, 1885, a phytosaur, a kind of archosauromorph with a croc body plan, top predator of its time.

The Lower Maleri Formation has also yielded remains of at least one type of indeterminate prosauropod.


February 2, 2020

References:



All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Fossil Vertebrates of the Kupferschiefer of Germany

February 9, 2020, 11:47 am
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Fossil Vertebrates of the Kupferschiefer of Germany

Type Horizon and Locality: Late Permian, Kupferschiefer Member, Werra Formation, Zechstein Group (Wuchiapingian) Germany

Represented here:

Glaurung schneideri Bulanov and Sennikov, 2015, a recently described gliding reptile, originally thought to be a specimen of Weigeltisaurus.
Parasaurus geinitzi Meyer, 1857, an enigmatic small parareptilian belonging to the herbivorous possibly amphibious pareiasaurs.
Procynosuchus delaharpeae Broom, 1937, a semi-aquatic cynodont which was originally described from fossils from South Africa. Procynosuchus has also been found in Zambia and Russia.
Protorosaurus speneri Meyer, 1830, the earliest known archosauromorph reptile, a lineage that will eventually lead to the crocodiles, dinosaurs and birds.
Weigeltisaurus jaekeli (Weigelt, 1930), an early gliding diapsid reptile, with bony rods extending from the side of the body, which were probably covered by skin to form "wings".

The Werra Formation has also yielded a remarkable number of fish, invertebrates and plants fossils.


February 9, 2020


References:

Tsuji, L. A., & Müller, J. (2008). A re-evaluation of Parasaurus geinitzi, the first named pareiasaur (Amniota, Parareptilia). Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 45(10), 1111-1121.

Bulanov, V. V., & Sennikov, A. G. (2015). Glaurung schneideri gen. et sp. nov., a New Weigeltisaurid (Reptilia) from the Kupfershiefer (Upper Permian) of Germany. Paleontological Journal, 49(12), 1353-1364.


All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Fossil Vertebrates of the Madygen Formation of Kyrgyzstan

February 15, 2020, 9:48 pm
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Fossil Vertebrates of the Madygen Formation of Kyrgyzstan

Type Horizon and Locality: Middle or Late Triassic, Upper Grey-coloured Member, Madygen Formation (Ladinian or Carnian) Kyrgyzstan

Represented here:

Longisquama insignis Sharov, 1970, a small lizard-like creature with bizarre integumentary structures on its back.
Kyrgyzsaurus bukhanchenkoi Alifanov & Kurochkin, 2011, a primitive drepanosaur known from a fossil of a partial skeleton surrounded by extensive skin impressions.
Madygenerpeton pustulatus Schoch et al., 2010, a chroniosuchian, a group of enigmatic semi-aquatic reptiles with the shape of an alligator.
Madysaurus sharovi Tatarinov, 2005, a tiny short-snouted primitive cynodont.
Sharovipteryx mirabilis (Sharov, 1971), a small and unique gliding reptile. The very long hind legs and tail supported a wing membrane.
Triassurus sixtelae Ivakhnenko, 1978, known for a poorly preserved specimen, possibly the oldest known salamander (Caudata), but could as well be temnospondyl larvae.

The Madygen Formation has also yielded a rich insect fauna, as well as fish, including primitive shark egg capsules.


February 15, 2020


References:

Alifanov, V. R., & Kurochkin, E. N. (2011). Kyrgyzsaurus bukhanchenkoi gen. et sp. nov., a new reptile from the Triassic of southwestern Kyrgyzstan. Paleontological Journal, 45(6), 639-647.

Gans, C., Darevski, I., & Tatarinov, L. P. (1987). Sharovipteryx, a reptilian glider?. Paleobiology, 13(4), 415-426.
 
Reisz, R. R., & Sues, H. D. (2000). The'feathers' of Longisquama. Nature, 408(6811), 428-428.
 
Schoch, R. R., Voigt, S., & Buchwitz, M. (2010). A chroniosuchid from the Triassic of Kyrgyzstan and analysis of chroniosuchian relationships. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 160(3), 515-530.


All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Mystriosuchus planirostris

February 16, 2020, 7:16 pm
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Mystriosuchus planirostris (Meyer, 1863)

Systematics:  Phytosauria Phytosauridae Pseudopalatinae
Size: 4 m long
Type Horizon and Locality: Late Triassic,  Mittlerer Stubensandstein Member, Löwenstein Formation (Norian) Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Type Specimen: MCZ 1018/4361, skull and dorsal vertebrae

Phytosaurs were a group of Late Triassic archosauriforms showing remarkable morphological convergence with crocodiles. Their have nostrils at the level of the eyes rather than at the tip of the snout and were more heavily armored. The genus Mystriosuchus ("spoon crocodile") had a very long snout reminiscent of modern gharials and was more adapted to an aquatic life than other phytosaurs. Mystriosuchus has been found in Europe (Germany, Austria, Italy, England). Three species are currently recognized: M. planirostris, M. westphali and the recently described M. steinbergi.

February 16, 2020

References:

Hungerbühler, A. (2002). The Late Triassic phytosaur Mystriosuchus westphali, with a revision of the genus. Palaeontology, 45(2), 377-418.

All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Psephoderma alpinum

February 29, 2020, 8:04 pm
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Psephoderma alpinum Meyer, 1858

Systematics:  Sauropterygia Placodontia Placochelyidae
Size: 1.8 m long
Type Horizon and Locality: Late Triassic,  Kössen Formation (Rhaetian) Bayern, Germany
Type Specimen: BSP AS I 8, dermal shield


Placodonts form a group of marine shell-eating reptiles related to plesiosaurs. They are characterized by their large flat teeth ideal for crushing the shells of mollusks and brachiopods. Some members of the group evolved to look superficially like sea turtle. Psephoderma had a two-piece carapace and fossils of this animal have been found in the Latest Triassic rocks of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and England. Two species have been described: P. alpinum and P. anglicum.

February 29, 2020


References:

Neenan, J. M., & Scheyer, T. M. (2014). New specimen of Psephoderma alpinum (Sauropterygia, Placodontia) from the Late Triassic of Schesaplana Mountain, Graubünden, Switzerland. Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 107(2-3), 349-357.

All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Bergamodactylus wildi

March 2, 2020, 8:34 pm
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Bergamodactylus wildi Kellner, 2015

Systematics:  Pterosauria Macronychoptera Novialoidea Campylognathoididae
Size: 50 cm wingspan
Type Horizon and Locality: Late Triassic,  Zorzino Limestone Formation (Norian) Lombardy, Italy
Type Specimen: MPUM 6009, partial skeleton

Bergamodactylus, with an estimated wingspan of less than 50 cm, was one of the smallest pterosaurs. It is known from a single partial skeleton which was originally described as a juvenile specimen of Eudimorphodon ranzii. Bergamodactylus is possibly the same animal than Carniadactylus.

March 2, 2020

References:

Dalla Vecchia, F. M. (2018). Comments on Triassic pterosaurs with a commentary on the" ontogenetic stages" of Kellner (2015) and the validity of Bergamodactylus wildi. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, 124(2).

Kellner, A. W. (2015). Comments on Triassic pterosaurs with discussion about ontogeny and description of new taxa. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 87(2), 669-689.


All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Kayentatherium wellesi

March 28, 2020, 9:07 pm
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Kayentatherium wellesi Kermack, 1982

Systematics:  Synapsida Therapsida Cynodontia Tritylodontidae
Size: 30 cm
Type Horizon and Locality: Early Jurassic, Kayenta Formation, Glen Canyon Group (Sinemurian) Apache County, Arizona, US
Type Specimen: UCMP 83671, a skull

Kayentatherium ("Kayenta Beast") is a small herbivorous cynodont, about 30 cm in length, which lived alongside dinosaurs in what is now Arizona. It may have been semi-aquatic.

March 14, 2020

References:

Kermack, D. M. (1982). A new tritylodontid from the Kayenta Formation of Arizona. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 76(1), 1-17.


All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Docofossor brachydactylus

March 29, 2020, 11:49 am
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Docofossor brachydactylus Luo et al., 2015

Systematics:  Synapsida Therapsida Cynodontia Mammaliaformes Docodonta Docodontidae
Size: 9 cm
Type Horizon and Locality: Late Jurassic, Tiaojishan Formation (Oxfordian) Hebei Province, China
Type Specimen: BMNH 131735A, a partial articulated skeleton

Docofossor ("Digging Docodont") is a mammaliaform which shows digging adaptations similar to modern golden moles.

March 15, 2020

References:

Luo, Z. X., Meng, Q. J., Ji, Q., Liu, D., Zhang, Y. G., & Neander, A. I. (2015). Evolutionary development in basal mammaliaforms as revealed by a docodontan. Science, 347(6223), 760-764.


All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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Ekaltadeta ima

March 29, 2020, 2:31 pm
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Ekaltadeta ima Archer & Flannery, 1985

Systematics:  Mammalia Marsupialia Diprotodontia Hypsiprymnodontidae
Size: 60 cm
Type Horizon and Locality: Middle Miocene, Faunal Zone C, Riversleigh, Queensland, Australia
Type Specimen: QM F12423, partial left dentary with teeth

Nicknamed the "killer kangaroo", Ekaltadeta ("Powerful tooth") is a marsupial related to modern rat-kangaroos. It is believed from the dentition that it was either a meat eater or an omnivore.

March 29, 2020


References:

Archer, M., & Flannery, T. (1985). Revision of the extinct gigantic rat kangaroos (Potoroidae: Marsupialia), with description of a new Miocene genus and species and a new Pleistocene species of Propleopus. Journal of Paleontology, 1331-1349.

Wroe, S. (1996). An investigation of phylogeny in the giant extinct rat kangaroo Ekaltadeta (Propleopinae, Potoroidae, Marsupialia). Journal of Paleontology, 70(4), 681-690.

Wroe, S., Brammall, J., & Cooke, B. N. (1998). The skull of Ekaltadeta ima (Marsupialia, Hypsiprymnodontidae?): an analysis of some marsupial cranial features and a re-investigation of propleopine phylogeny, with notes on the inference of carnivory in mammals. Journal of Paleontology, 72(4), 738-751.


All illustrations on this site are copyrighted to Nobu Tamura.  The low resolution versions of the images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)  license meaning that you are free to use them  as long as you properly credit the author (© N. Tamura). High resolution versions are available upon request. Questions: contact me at nobu dot tamura at yahoo dot com.
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