skull

Skeletal elements of Bajadasaurus pronuspinax gen. et sp. nov (MMCh-PV 75). (A–C) Skull roof and braincase in posterior (A), left lateral (B) and right lateral (C) views. (D,E) Left lower jaw in dorsal (D) and medial (E) views. F, Dentaries in anterior view. (G) Pterygoids in ventral view. (H) Left maxilla in medial view. (I) Left lacrimal in lateral view. (J) Left quadratojugal in lateral view. (K,L) Right quadrate in medial (K) and posterior (L) views. (M) Proatlases in dorsal view. (N) Atlantal neurapophyses in anterior view. (O,P), Axis in left lateral (O) and anterior (P) views. (Q,R) Fifth cervical vertebra in left lateral (Q) and anterior (R) views. an, angular; ar, articular; bo, basioccipital; bt, basal tubera; btp, basipterygoid process; ch, ‘chin’ of dentary; cn, cranial nerve; d, dentary; di, diapophysis; f, frontal; fm, foramen magnum; fo, fenestra ovalis; ls, laterosphenoid; met, metotic foramen; mp, medial process; nc, neural canal; ns, neural spine; os, orbitosphenoid; p, parietal; pfo, pneumatic fossa; po, postorbital; pocdf, postzygapophyseal centrodiapophyseal fossa; podl, postzygodiapophyseal lamina; popr, paraoccipital process; poz, postzygapophysis; pra, prearticular; pre, prezygapophysis; prsl, prespinal lamina; ptf, postemporal fenestra; qf, quadrate fossa; rm, replacement maxillary tooth; sa, surangular; sp, splenial; sq, squamosal; stf, supratemporal fenestra; vk, ventral keel; vp, ventral process.

The skull of Aquilops in three versions: the actual holotype fossil down below, a reconstruction of the distorted skull with the missing bits sculpted in by preparator and reptile-reconstructor extraordinaire Kyle Davies (see more of his work here), and a reconstruction of the skull as it might have looked before it went through the ravages of taphonomy.

Figure 1: Holotype and skeletal reconstruction of Mosaiceratops azumai, gen. et sp. nov (ZMNH M8856). (a) photograph and line drawing of ZMNH M8856; (b) skeletal reconstruction showing preserved elements in white. Scale bar 10 cm. Abbreviations: a, astragalus; boc, basioccipital; c, calcaneum; cav, caudal vertebra; ch, chevron; cv, cervical vertebra; dr, dorsal rib; dv, dorsal vertebra; f, frontal; fem, femur; fl, fibula; h, humerus; il, ilium; is, ischium; L, left; mt, metatarsal; ph, phalanx/phalanges; po, postorbital; R, right; sk, skull; sq, squamosal; t, tibia; td, tendon; ?, undiagnostic remains.

Skull of Eternauta patagonica (photograph and diagram in right view)

Skeletal diagram featuring the optimal remains of the holotype of Graciliceratops mongoliensis: ZPAL MgD-I/156.[1] Found in the Bayan Shireh Formation, in the original description the remains were referred to the genus Microceratops (now obsolete).[2] However, Sereno in 2000 noted that there was no base for this referral, then, he created a new genus and species for this specimen.[1] The holotype is very fragmented (specially the skull), consisting of:[2] Fragmented skull; 4 cervical, 12 dorsal and 7 sacral vertebrae; right scapula; proximal end of left scapula; left coracoid; right humerus, radius and fragmentary ulna; proximal and distal end of left humerus; proximal fragments of both pubis; fragments of both illium and fragment of right ischium; right femur, tibia and nearly complete pes; distal part of left tibia, fragmentary left pes; tarsals and isolated ribs.[2] The sacral vertebrae are not fused, an indicator of the immaturity of this specimen; the estimated adult size is about 2 meters long or similar to Protoceratops.[2][1] Right quadratojugal, quadrate and fragmentary jugal were reversed in order to get an optimal view.

Zhejiangopterus linhaiensis, skull (cast), Zhejiang Geological Museum

Smitanosaurus agilis skull fragment and neck.

The theropod skull displays the distinctive features of this apex predator, including a long, robust snout, conical teeth, and strong jaw muscles adapted for gripping and tearing prey.

Reconstruction of the skull of Tlatolophus galorum by sculptor Samuel Nieves Tlapaya (El Alebrije Prehistórico). Displayed in the lobby of the hosting hotel of the 12th Latin American Congress of Paleontology, held in Puebla, Mexico, during the first week of March 2025.

Skull of Caiuajara dobruskii gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, CP.V 1449) with the shape of an adult individual. Scale bar equals 50: d, dentary; dcr, dentary crest; dep, depression; exp, ventral expansion of the premaxilla; f, frontal; fcr, frontal crest; fo, foraminae; m, maxilla; oc, occipital condyle; op, opisthotic; p, parietal; pm, premaxilla; pmcr, premaxillary crest; q, quadrate; soc, supraoccipital. The quadrate is inverted.

Minqaria bata skull reconstruction with known elements shown in white.

Caupedactylus ybaka holotype skull (MN 4726-V) in D, E, left lateral view.

A–B, skull in dorsal view; C–E, postcranial skeleton; in left dorsolateral (C) and left lateral (D–E) views. In line drawings (B, E) dark grey tone indicates damage and light grey tone indicates the palate. Abbreviations: ca, caudal vertebra [number following indicates order in preserved series]; ce, cervical vertebra; d, dorsal vertebra; depr, depression; ecto, ectopterygoid; epip, epipterygoid; exp, expanded neural spine apex; fr, frontal; jug, jugal; l., left [followed by name of element]; mx, maxilla; p, ‘pectoral’ vertebra; par, parietal; pmx, premaxilla; po, postorbital; pofr, postfrontal; prfr, prefrontal; qua, quadrate; r., right [followed by name of element]; s, sacral vertebra; sq, squamosal; unexp, unexpanded neural spine apex. Scale bars equal 50 mm (A–B), 20 mm (C), and 200 mm (D–E).

Reconstructed skull of Duriavenator hesperis showing known material (white) of the holotype and only known specimen. Unknown bones based on related Eustreptospondylus oxoniensis. Scale bar is 10cm, image is 10px/cm. Cranial anatomy based on Benson (2008) "A redescription of "Megalosaurus" hesperis (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Inferior Oolite (Bajocian, Middle Jurassic) of Dorset, United Kingdom"

Beg tse - skull and drawing. a Skull in lateral view. b Schematic drawing of skull in left lateral view. Abbreviations: af, antorbital fossa; an, angular; de, dentary; fr, frontal; j, jugal; la, lacrimal; mx, maxilla; na, nasal; or, orbit; pd, predentary; pf, prefrontal; pm, premaxilla; po, postorbital; qu, quadrate; sa, surangular.

Azhdarchoid pterosaur Kariridraco dianae gen. et sp. nov. holotype (MPSC R 1056) from Lower Cretaceous of Northeastern Brazil. Skull in right lateral view. Photograph (A1), interpretative drawing (A2). Dark grey areas indicate remains of the carbonate matrix still attachaed to the skull.