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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).
Taxa Avalonnectes

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).

scale vertebra drawing Avalonnectes +2
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"
Taxa Duriavenator

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"

bone scale United Kingdom Bajocian +11
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.
Taxa Beg

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.

drawing skull
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.
Taxa Kariridraco

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.

drawing Brazil Cretaceous holotype +3
Reconstructed skull of Wiehenvenator albati based on holotype specimen (white). Scale bar is 10cm, image if 10px/cm. Unknown material based on related Torvosaurus tanneri. Cranial anatomy based on Rauhut et al (2016) "A new megalosaurid theropod dinosaur from the late Middle Jurassic (Callovian) of north-western Germany: implications for theropod evolution and faunal turnover in the Jurassic"
Taxa Wiehenvenator

Reconstructed skull of Wiehenvenator albati based on holotype specimen (white). Scale bar is 10cm, image if 10px/cm. Unknown material based on related Torvosaurus tanneri. Cranial anatomy based on Rauhut et al (2016) "A new megalosaurid theropod dinosaur from the late Middle Jurassic (Callovian) of north-western Germany: implications for theropod evolution and faunal turnover in the Jurassic"

scale Germany Callovian Jurassic +10
Photograph (A) and line drawing (B) of the skull of Asiatyrannus xui (ZMNH M30360) in right lateral view. The inset box in (A) indicates the position of the detailed jugal accessory horn in (C). acf accessory fossa of maxilla; ang angular; aof antorbital fenestra; cor cornual process; d dentary; d.t dentary tooth; emf external mandibular fenestra; en external naris; f frontal; gr groove; itf infratemporal fenestra; j jugal; jah jugal accessory horn; L left; la lacrimal; mf maxillary fenestra; mnvf maxillary neurovascular foramina; mx maxilla; nas nasal; nr nasal ridge; orb orbit; par parietal; pal palatine; pmx premaxilla; po postorbital; q quadrate; qj quadratojugal; R right; sa surangular; sf surangular foramen; snf subnarial foramen; sq squamosal; t1–6 maxillary tooth 1–6.
Taxa Asiatyrannus

Photograph (A) and line drawing (B) of the skull of Asiatyrannus xui (ZMNH M30360) in right lateral view. The inset box in (A) indicates the position of the detailed jugal accessory horn in (C). acf accessory fossa of maxilla; ang angular; aof antorbital fenestra; cor cornual process; d dentary; d.t dentary tooth; emf external mandibular fenestra; en external naris; f frontal; gr groove; itf infratemporal fenestra; j jugal; jah jugal accessory horn; L left; la lacrimal; mf maxillary fenestra; mnvf maxillary neurovascular foramina; mx maxilla; nas nasal; nr nasal ridge; orb orbit; par parietal; pal palatine; pmx premaxilla; po postorbital; q quadrate; qj quadratojugal; R right; sa surangular; sf surangular foramen; snf subnarial foramen; sq squamosal; t1–6 maxillary tooth 1–6.

tooth drawing Asiatyrannus skull
D. Dentary tooth crowns of Arenysaurus ardevoli (MPZ 2008/258) in lingual view. E. Caudal region of the skull roof of A. ardevoli (MPZ 2008/1) in dorsal view. F. Left dentary of A. ardevoli (MPZ 2008/258) in medial view.
Taxa Arenysaurus

D. Dentary tooth crowns of Arenysaurus ardevoli (MPZ 2008/258) in lingual view. E. Caudal region of the skull roof of A. ardevoli (MPZ 2008/1) in dorsal view. F. Left dentary of A. ardevoli (MPZ 2008/258) in medial view.

tooth Arenysaurus skull
Figure 1: Jianianhualong tengi holotype DLXH 1218.
Scale bar, 50 cm. cav, caudal vertebrae; cv, cervical vertebrae; dv, dorsal vertebrae; fu, furcula; lfe, left femur; lh, left humerus; li, left ilium; lis, left ischium; lm, left manus; lp left pes; lpu, left pubis; lr, left radius; lu, left ulna; md, mandible; rc, right coracoid; rfe, right femur; rfi, right fibula; rh, right humerus; ri, right ilium; rm, right manus; rr, right radius; rs, right scapula; rt, right tibiotarsus; ru, right ulna; sk, skull; ss, synsacrum.
Taxa Jianianhualong

Figure 1: Jianianhualong tengi holotype DLXH 1218. Scale bar, 50 cm. cav, caudal vertebrae; cv, cervical vertebrae; dv, dorsal vertebrae; fu, furcula; lfe, left femur; lh, left humerus; li, left ilium; lis, left ischium; lm, left manus; lp left pes; lpu, left pubis; lr, left radius; lu, left ulna; md, mandible; rc, right coracoid; rfe, right femur; rfi, right fibula; rh, right humerus; ri, right ilium; rm, right manus; rr, right radius; rs, right scapula; rt, right tibiotarsus; ru, right ulna; sk, skull; ss, synsacrum.

humerus scale holotype Jianianhualong +1
Diagram featuring the holotype (BNMNH-PV030) skull of the troodontid Papiliovenator neimengguensis, from the Bayan Mandahu Formation. Abbreviations: a, angular; d, dentary; f, frontal; j, jugal; l, lacrimal; m, maxilla; n, nasal; p, parietal; q, quadrate;  s, surangular;  sp, splenial.[1]
References

↑  (2022). "A new troodontid from the Upper Cretaceous Gobi Basin of inner Mongolia, China". Cretaceous Research 130: Article 105052. DOI:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105052.
Taxa Papiliovenator

Diagram featuring the holotype (BNMNH-PV030) skull of the troodontid Papiliovenator neimengguensis, from the Bayan Mandahu Formation. Abbreviations: a, angular; d, dentary; f, frontal; j, jugal; l, lacrimal; m, maxilla; n, nasal; p, parietal; q, quadrate; s, surangular; sp, splenial.[1] References ↑ (2022). "A new troodontid from the Upper Cretaceous Gobi Basin of inner Mongolia, China". Cretaceous Research 130: Article 105052. DOI:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105052.

China Mongolia Cretaceous holotype +4
Partial skull of Abrictosaurus consors in left lateral view (NHMUK RU B54)
Taxa Abrictosaurus

Partial skull of Abrictosaurus consors in left lateral view (NHMUK RU B54)

Abrictosaurus partial skull
Holotype skull of Thalattoarchon saurophagis at the Field Museum of Natural History.
Taxa Thalattoarchon

Holotype skull of Thalattoarchon saurophagis at the Field Museum of Natural History.

museum holotype Thalattoarchon skull
Balaenognathus maeuseri gen. et sp. nov.: comparative interpretive drawings of the skulls of suspension feeding ctenochasmatoid pterosaurs in dorsal aspect. Balaenognathus this paper; Pterodaustro based on Bonaparte (1978); Plateleorhynchus based on Howse and Milner (1995); Gnathosaurus based on specimen JME-SOS 4580; Ctenochasma based on (2007 Fig. 2F)
Taxa Plataleorhynchus

Balaenognathus maeuseri gen. et sp. nov.: comparative interpretive drawings of the skulls of suspension feeding ctenochasmatoid pterosaurs in dorsal aspect. Balaenognathus this paper; Pterodaustro based on Bonaparte (1978); Plateleorhynchus based on Howse and Milner (1995); Gnathosaurus based on specimen JME-SOS 4580; Ctenochasma based on (2007 Fig. 2F)

feeding drawing specimen Balaenognathus +6
Photograph of the holotype of Linhevenator tani (LH V0021). Abbreviations: ds, dorsal series; lf, left femur; li, left ischium; lpe, left pes; rh, right humerus; rs, right scapula; sk, skull. Scale bar equals 20 mm.
Taxa Linhevenator

Photograph of the holotype of Linhevenator tani (LH V0021). Abbreviations: ds, dorsal series; lf, left femur; li, left ischium; lpe, left pes; rh, right humerus; rs, right scapula; sk, skull. Scale bar equals 20 mm.

humerus scale holotype Linhevenator +1
Mounted skull of EMK 0012 (Lokiceratops rangiformis holotype). (A) Mounted skull in posterior view. (B) Mounted skull in right lateral view. (C) Mounted skull in dorsal view. (D) Mounted skull in left lateral view. Areas in gray are reconstructed. Minor changes from side to side and in the orbits are the result of post-depositional deformation. Photos contain parallax. Scale bar equals 1 m.
Taxa Lokiceratops

Mounted skull of EMK 0012 (Lokiceratops rangiformis holotype). (A) Mounted skull in posterior view. (B) Mounted skull in right lateral view. (C) Mounted skull in dorsal view. (D) Mounted skull in left lateral view. Areas in gray are reconstructed. Minor changes from side to side and in the orbits are the result of post-depositional deformation. Photos contain parallax. Scale bar equals 1 m.

scale holotype Lokiceratops skull
Reconstruceted skull of Dubreuillosaurus illustrating known (white) and unknown (grey) material. Scale bar is 10cm. Based of figures and description of Allain (2002) "Discovery of megalosaur (Dinosauria, Theropoda) in the middle Bathonian of Normandy (France) and its implications for the phylogeny of basal Tetanurae"
Taxa Dubreuillosaurus

Reconstruceted skull of Dubreuillosaurus illustrating known (white) and unknown (grey) material. Scale bar is 10cm. Based of figures and description of Allain (2002) "Discovery of megalosaur (Dinosauria, Theropoda) in the middle Bathonian of Normandy (France) and its implications for the phylogeny of basal Tetanurae"

scale description France Bathonian +8
skull of iguanodontian Altirhinus kurzanovi
Taxa Altirhinus

skull of iguanodontian Altirhinus kurzanovi

Altirhinus Iguanodontia skull
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News

A 250-million-year-old fossil reveals the origins of mammal hearing
bone jaw fossil mammals skull
Sensitive hearing may have evolved in mammal ancestors far earlier than scientists once believed. By modeling how sound moved through the skull of Thrinaxodon, a 250-million-year-old mammal predecessor, researchers found it likely used an early eardrum to hear airborne sounds. This challenges the long-held idea that these animals mainly “listened” through their jaws or bones. The results reveal that a key feature of modern mammal hearing was already taking shape deep in prehistory.
20/01/2026 sciencedaily
Anurognathus: Beast of the Week
Anurognathus: Beast of the Week
Germany Jurassic Late Jurassic Anurognathus Pterosauria skull
This week we will be checking out a unique little pterosaur, Anurognathus ammoni!  Anurognathus lived in what is now Germany during the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago.  It was tiny, sporting a 14 inch (35.5 cm) wingspan, and would have likely eaten insects.  It's genus name translates to "Frog Jaw" since its skull was similar looking to a frog's, being extremely blunt with a wide mouth.  Watercolor reconstruction of Anurognathus ammoni by Christopher DiPiazza.Anurognathus' sku
14/12/2025 prehistoricbeastoftheweek
242-million-year-old mini predator changes lizard evolution
limb tooth predator fossil evolution new species skull
A tiny 242-million-year-old fossil from Devon is shaking up scientists’ assumptions about the earliest members of the lizard lineage. Instead of the expected skull hinges and palate teeth typical of modern lizards and snakes, this ancient creature shows a surprising mix of primitive and unusual traits—along with strikingly large, blade-like teeth. High-resolution synchrotron scans revealed details invisible to the naked eye, helping researchers name the new species Agriodontosaurus helsbypetrae
30/11/2025 sciencedaily
Humans evolved faster than any other ape
growth evolution skull
UCL scientists found that human skulls evolved much faster than those of other apes, reflecting the powerful forces driving our brain growth and facial flattening. By comparing 3D models of ape skulls, they showed that humans changed about twice as much as expected. The findings suggest that both cognitive and social factors, not just intelligence, influenced our evolutionary path.
29/10/2025 sciencedaily-human-evo
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