NOTE: My gracious thanks to those who have given their input on this article and who pointed out the flaws in the first draft. The content of this article has since been modified in accordance with these critiques. Necessity is… Read More ›
Europe
Acamptonectes
Acamptonectes densus was a 4 meter (13 foot) long ichthyosaur which swam in the seas around western Europe during the early Cretaceous Period 131-129 million years ago. The first specimen was found in the seaside village of Speeton, Yorkshire, England… Read More ›
Goniopholis: The Typical Mesozoic Crocodile
Dinosaurs ruled the land during the Mesozoic Era, but crocodiles and their relatives unquestionably ruled the water. Prehistoric crocodiles are usually relegated to the background as supporting actors or extras in our imagined Mesozoic dramas, but the truth is that… Read More ›
February 27 – The Chariot Race of Februus
February is the month of Februus, the ancient Roman god of purification. The name Februus comes from the Latin verb februa (which may have either Etruscan or Sabine roots), which means “to purge, purify, or cleanse”. The word “fever” is based on… Read More ›
Serradraco
Serradraco, meaning “saw dragon” in Latin in reference to the saw-like appearance of its jaws, was a pterosaur which lived in England during the early Cretaceous Period approximately 135-132 million years ago. Fossil remains were discovered during the 1800s in… Read More ›
Leedsichthys
Leedsichthys was a very large prehistoric saltwater fish which lived during the middle and late Jurassic Period, circa 165-150 million years ago. It was named in 1889 in honor of Alfred N. Leeds who found the first specimen. Leedsichthys belonged… Read More ›
Aegirosaurus
Aegirosaurus leptospondylus was a 6 foot long ichthyosaur which lived in the seas around Europe during the late Jurassic Period and early Cretaceous Period, roughly 147-135 million years ago. Aegirosaurus belonged to a family of ichthyosaurs called the ophthalmosaurids (Bardet… Read More ›
Dimorphodon
Dimorphodon was a species of pterosaur that lived during the early Jurassic Period about 195-190 million years ago. It measured over 3 feet long from its nose to the end of its long tail (which may or may not have… Read More ›
The Great Cat Massacre
Our story takes place on a street in Paris, France called the Rue Saint-Séverin sometime during the 1730s – nobody is sure of the exact year when these events supposedly occurred. Somewhere along this street was a print shop owned… Read More ›
Mierasaurus
Mierasaurus was a turiasaurian sauropod dinosaur which lived in Utah during the early Cretaceous Period approximately 139 to 136 million years ago. Mierasaurus lived during a time when the environment of prehistoric Utah became substantially wetter and more humid than… Read More ›