Jurassique

Left ilium of Stokesosaurus clevelandi, Madsen 1974 (UMNH VP 7473), Morrison Formation, Utah, USA, Late Jurassic (early Tithonian).

Megapnosaurus is a coelophysid theropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic Period of Africa. It was a lightly built bipedal carnivore that grew to just over 2 m long and 13 kg in body mass. Its close relation to Coelophysis has caused some confusion in classifying the genus - it had a slender build and curved S-shaped neck, but was more robust. Comparisons between the scleral rings of Megapnosaurus and modern birds and reptiles indicate that it may have been nocturnal.

Photograph of Museo civico di scienze naturali di Bergamo (MCSNB) 2888, the holotype specimen of Eudimorphodon ranzii ZAMBELLI 1973, a basal pterosaur from the Norian (middle Upper Triassic) of the Italian Alps.[1] ↑ see fig. 8A in Silvio Renesto (2006): A reappraisal of the diversity and biogeographic significance of the Norian (Late Triassic) reptiles from the Calcare di Zorzino. In: Jerry D. Harris, Spencer G. Lucas, Justin A. Spielmann, Martin G. Lockley, Andrew R.C. Milner, James I. Kirkland (eds.): The Triassic-Jurassic Terrestrial Transition. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 37:445–456 (online)

In 2000 a virtually complete Scelidosaurus skeleton was discovered in England. This fossil's hundreds of armor plates and spikes are preserved in their life positions, providing extraordinary details about how this dinosaur looked. St. George is the only place anywhere in the Western Hemisphere that the 11-foot long Scelidosaurus replica has been on display. The St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm (St. George, Utah) is home to exceptionally well-preserved dinosaur tracks, some displaying skin impressions. These tracks, along with hundreds of fossil fish, plants, rare dinosaur remains, invertebrates traces and important sedimentary structures, show evidence that this site was produced along the western edge of a large, Early Jurassic (age between 195-198 million years ago) freshwater lake named Lake Dixie. Source: www.sgcity.org/dinotrax/

In 2000 a virtually complete Scelidosaurus skeleton was discovered in England. This fossil's hundreds of armor plates and spikes are preserved in their life positions, providing extraordinary details about how this dinosaur looked. St. George is the only place anywhere in the Western Hemisphere that the 11-foot long Scelidosaurus replica has been on display. The St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm (St. George, Utah) is home to exceptionally well-preserved dinosaur tracks, some displaying skin impressions. These tracks, along with hundreds of fossil fish, plants, rare dinosaur remains, invertebrates traces and important sedimentary structures, show evidence that this site was produced along the western edge of a large, Early Jurassic (age between 195-198 million years ago) freshwater lake named Lake Dixie. Source: www.sgcity.org/dinotrax/

Mary Anning's plesiosaur: Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus Lower Jurassic Lyme Regis, England, UK

Camarasaurus lentus (Marsh, 1889) sauropod dinosaur from the Jurassic of Utah, USA (public display, CM 11338, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA). This is a near-complete juvenile sauropod dinosaur in the original fluvial sandstone matrix - such skeletons are extremely rare. Classification: Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha, Camarasauridae Stratigraphy: Brushy Basin Member, Morrison Formation, Upper Jurassic, 151 Ma Locality: Carnegie Quarry, Dinosaur National Monument, northeastern Utah, USA Sauropod dinosaurs were the largest terrestrial animals ever. They all have the same basic body plan: large body with four walking legs, very long neck & tail, and a small head relative to body size. Sauropods were herbivores, and are often perceived as holding their heads & necks up high to reach vegetation normally out of reach to other organisms. Modern reconstructions of many sauropod species depict them with heads and necks held close to the horizontal, or at low angles above the horizontal.

Camarasaurus lentus (Marsh, 1889) sauropod dinosaur from the Jurassic of Utah, USA (public display, CM 11338, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA). This is a near-complete juvenile sauropod dinosaur in the original fluvial sandstone matrix - such skeletons are extremely rare. Classification: Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha, Camarasauridae Stratigraphy: Brushy Basin Member, Morrison Formation, Upper Jurassic, 151 Ma Locality: Carnegie Quarry, Dinosaur National Monument, northeastern Utah, USA Sauropod dinosaurs were the largest terrestrial animals ever. They all have the same basic body plan: large body with four walking legs, very long neck & tail, and a small head relative to body size. Sauropods were herbivores, and are often perceived as holding their heads & necks up high to reach vegetation normally out of reach to other organisms. Modern reconstructions of many sauropod species depict them with heads and necks held close to the horizontal, or at low angles above the horizontal.

Camarasaurus lentus (Marsh, 1889) sauropod dinosaur from the Jurassic of Utah, USA (public display, CM 11338, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA). This is a near-complete juvenile sauropod dinosaur in the original fluvial sandstone matrix - such skeletons are extremely rare. Classification: Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha, Camarasauridae Stratigraphy: Brushy Basin Member, Morrison Formation, Upper Jurassic, 151 Ma Locality: Carnegie Quarry, Dinosaur National Monument, northeastern Utah, USA Sauropod dinosaurs were the largest terrestrial animals ever. They all have the same basic body plan: large body with four walking legs, very long neck & tail, and a small head relative to body size. Sauropods were herbivores, and are often perceived as holding their heads & necks up high to reach vegetation normally out of reach to other organisms. Modern reconstructions of many sauropod species depict them with heads and necks held close to the horizontal, or at low angles above the horizontal.

Camarasaurus lentus (Marsh, 1889) sauropod dinosaur from the Jurassic of Utah, USA (public display, CM 11338, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA). This is a near-complete juvenile sauropod dinosaur in the original fluvial sandstone matrix - such skeletons are extremely rare. Classification: Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha, Camarasauridae Stratigraphy: Brushy Basin Member, Morrison Formation, Upper Jurassic, 151 Ma Locality: Carnegie Quarry, Dinosaur National Monument, northeastern Utah, USA Sauropod dinosaurs were the largest terrestrial animals ever. They all have the same basic body plan: large body with four walking legs, very long neck & tail, and a small head relative to body size. Sauropods were herbivores, and are often perceived as holding their heads & necks up high to reach vegetation normally out of reach to other organisms. Modern reconstructions of many sauropod species depict them with heads and necks held close to the horizontal, or at low angles above the horizontal.

Ophthalmosaurus icenius, from the time of the Callovian period of the Middle Jurassic. This specimen was found in Oxford Clay, in Peterborough, England. Photo lightly touched up to remove lighting flares.

Ophthalmosaurus icenius, from the time of the Callovian period of the Middle Jurassic. This specimen was found in Oxford Clay, in Peterborough, England. Photo lightly touched up to remove lighting flares.

Ophthalmosaurus icenius, from the time of the Callovian period of the Middle Jurassic. This specimen was found in Oxford Clay, in Peterborough, England. Photo lightly touched up to remove lighting flares.

Ophthalmosaurus icenius, from the time of the Callovian period of the Middle Jurassic. This specimen was found in Oxford Clay, in Peterborough, England. Photo lightly touched up to remove lighting flares.