Paleo File: Timurlengia

        In Tyrannosaur evolution, there is a 20 million year gap in the early-mid Cretaceous that excludes evidence of how this group of animals achieved its large dominating size. When new organisms are uncovered that shed light on these kinds of ‘dark gaps’, they help to shed new light on the way a group of animals develops over time.

Material referred to Timurlengia

Art and Copyright belongs to Todd Marshall            

              Timurlengia, coined in reference to the emperor Timurleng, became known in 1944. The original material, found in Uzbekistan, consisted of fragmentary bones and would remain in storage until a group of researchers uncovered a braincase in 2004; All of the fossils were again put into storage. Steve Brusatte analyzed the remains in 2014 and determined that the fossils suggested a unique genus. It was not until 2016 that Brusatte et al. coined the type specues Timurlengia euotica, euotica translating to “Well-eared”. In total, the material collected consist of; the right half of a braincase, right maxilla, left frontal bone, left quadrate, piece of a right dentary, a right articular with angular, front neck vertebra, rear neck vertebra, the neural arch of the front back vertebra, middle back vertebra, front tail vertebra, middle tail vertebra, rear tail vertebra, and a toe claw. All of these fossils were uncovered in the Bissekty Formation of the Kyzylkum Desert and date to the Turonian age of the early late Cretaceous period, approximately 90 million years ago.

Art and Copyright belongs to Fabrizio De Rossi

          Timurlengia shows characteristics of both early and later Tyrannosaurs; it had very well-developed sight, smell, hearing, and cognition reminiscent of the later Tyrannosaurs. The evidence of heightened senses but small size and slender snout suggest that Tyrannosaurs evolved their enormous size in a quick period of time. Timurlengia was an animal of around 9 to 12 feet in length with teeth designed for the rendering of flesh and senses developed for pursuit of fast-moving prey, like hadrosaurs. 

Art and Copyright belongs to James Kuether 

References:

Lazaro, Enrico De. "Timurlengia Euotica: New Species of Tyrannosaur Discovered in Uzbekistan." Timurlengia Euotica: New Species of Tyrannosaur Discovered in Uzbekistan. Sic-news, 15 Mar. 2016. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/timurlengia-euotica-new-species-tyrannosaur-uzbekistan-03702.html>.

Brusatte, Stephen L., Alexander Averianov, Hans-Dieter Sues, Amy Muir, and Ian B. Butler. "New Tyrannosaur from the Mid-Cretaceous of Uzbekistan Clarifies Evolution of Giant Body Sizes and Advanced Senses in Tyrant Dinosaurs." New Tyrannosaur from the Mid-Cretaceous of Uzbekistan Clarifies Evolution of Giant Body Sizes and Advanced Senses in Tyrant Dinosaurs. PNAS, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2016/03/08/1600140113>.

Paleo File: Bagaraatan

         Bagaraatan, which is mongolian for “little hunter”, was a small carnivorous theropod dinosaur. Polish Paleontologist, Halszka Osmólska discovered the remains of the animal in the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia 1996. Although the name might seem odd, it is the phylogenetic categorization that makes this organism an oddity.

Art and Copyright belongs to Robinson Kunz

          Halska Osmólska never pursued her findings to the phylogenetic level and left it to other scientists to decide on the fragmentary remains; A Lower Mandible, the upper legs, pelvis, and caudal vertebrae. Scientists have found three possible groups the animal may belong to; Holtz suggested a Tyrannosauroid, Coria a Troodontid, and Rauhut a Maniraptoran. However, despite the differing opinions and confounding evidence, the phylogenetic grouping so far agreed upon is Tyrannosauroidea. More fossils are needed before a concrete classification can be reached, or an appropriate reconstruction of the animal in life.

Material referred to Bagaraatan

References:

"BAGARAATAN : From DinoChecker's Dinosaur Archive." Dinochecker RSS. Dinochecker, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.dinochecker.com/dinosaurs/BAGARAATAN>.

"Bagaratan." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagaraatan>.

Osmolska, H. (1996). "An unusual theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Nemegt Formation of Mongolia". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 41; 1-38

"Bagaraatan." Bagaraatan. Prehistoric Wildlife, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/b/bagaraatan.html>.

Paleo File: Aviatyrannis

        Although small organisms tend to fossilize more complete than larger organisms, due to the increase of deterioration by environmental conditions on larger surface areas quicker, there are plenty of fragmentary organisms of a small stature. Take for instance; the theropod dinosaur, Aviatyrannis (Av-Eye-Ah-Tie-Ran-Is).

Material attributed to Aviatyrannis

           Uncovered exclusively, so far as science knows, in Portugal, the material was initially found in a lignitic coal seam within the Alcobaca Formation at Guimarota, which is near Leiria in Central Portugal. The Holotype, for which the specific name, jurassica, was attributed by Paleontologist, Oliver Rauhut, and subsisted of a right ilium. The ilium dated to the early Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic, about 155 million years ago. In 2003, Rauhut assigned a few more pieces to the genus including, a partial right ilium and right ischium.

Approximate Size

          The name, Aviatyrannis jurassica, translates to, “Tyrant Grandmother of the Jurassic” referring to the animal’s phylogenetic placement. Aviatyrannis is a very basal Tyrannosauroid, with the exception of Proceratosaurus, it is the most primitive and likely did not grow very large, with an estimated length of approximately 3-4 feet. Like with the majority of prehistoric flora and fauna, more material is needed before proper identification and visualization of the living organism can be appropriately realized.

Art and Copyright belongs to Frederik Spindler

Works Cited:

Paul, G.S., 2010, The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs, Princeton University Press p. 100

"Aviatyrannis." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviatyrannis>.

"Aviatyrannis." Aviatyrannis. Prehistoric Wildlife, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/a/aviatyrannis.html>.

"AVIATYRANNIS : From DinoChecker's Dinosaur Archive." Dinochecker RSS. DinoChecker, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://www.dinochecker.com/dinosaurs/AVIATYRANNIS>.
"Fossilworks: Aviatyrannis Jurassica." Fossilworks: Aviatyrannis Jurassica. Fossilworks, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2016. <http://fossilworks.org/?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=68482>.

Paleo File: Appalachiosaurus

Appalachiosaurus Reconstruction (Art and Copyright belongs to Todd Marshall)

     Appalachiosaurus, whose name means “Lizard of Appalachia”, is a theropod dinosaur from the east coast of North America during the Campanian stage of the Cretaceous period, approximately 77 Million years ago. It is not one of the most well known species because only a few remains have been found. 

Appalachiosaurus Skeleton, Note: the arms are incorrectly reconstructed here

        Originally uncovered in 1982 by Geologist, David King, in the Demopolis Chalk Formation of central Alabama the animal had yet to receive a name. However, in 2005 Paleontologists Thomas Carr, Thomas Williamson, and David Schwimmer coined the name, Appalachiosaurus montgomeriensis. The remains of Appalachiosaurus were found in Alabama, U.S. and was named Appalachiosaurus in lieu of the Appalachian mountains that are found in the state. Specifically the remains were uncovered in Montgomery County, which accounts for the species name. The remains found, belong to a juvenile animal with a length of 23 feet long and weight of over 1300 pounds. The material consists of parts of the skull, parts of the lower jaw, several vertebrae, parts of the pelvis, and most of both hindlimbs.

Juvenile Appalachiosaurus Reconstruction (Art and Copyright belongs to Fafnirx; On DeviantArt)

         The remains indicate that the animal was a primitive Tyrannosaur, whose family includes animals like Tyrannosaurus, Daspletosaurus, and Albertosaurus. However, the remains show characteristics usually found in more advanced tyrannosaurs placing Appalachiosaurus closer to Tyrannosauridae than other primitive tyrannosaurs like Alectrosaurus and Dryptosaurus. The arm material is not well known, only a few bones have been found. Originally, the skeleton of the animal was reconstructed with long arms ending in three fingered hands. This has since been revoked for the more widely accepted theory of shorter arms with two-fingered hands like that of later tyrannosaurs. Appalachiosaurus lived in an area that housed many other animals including; Lophorothon, Ornithomimus, Parasaurolophus, Hypsibema, and many more.

Relatives of Appalachiosaurus

Appalachiosaurus Scale (Art and Copyright belongs to PrehistoricWildlife)

Works Cited:

T.R. Holtz, Jr. (2004) "Tyrannosauroidea" in "The Dinosauria: Second Edition". /uk. 

T.D. Carr, T.E. Williamson & D.R. Schwimmer (2005) "A new genus and species of tyrannosauroid from the Late Cretaceous Demopolis Formation of Alabama".

"APPALACHIOSAURUS : From DinoChecker's Dinosaur Archive." Dinochecker RSS. Dinochecker, n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2016. <http://www.dinochecker.com/dinosaurs/APPALACHIOSAURUS>.

"APPALACHIOSAURUS and The Dinosauria of Alabama." The Dinosauria of Alabama. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2016. <http://www.rathcoombe.net/sci-tech/al-dino.html>.

"Appalachiosaurus." Appalachiosaurus. Prehisoricwildlife, n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2016. <http://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/a/appalachiosaurus.html>.

"Appalachiosaurus Montgomeriensis." - Triebold Paleontology. Triebold Paleontology, n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2016. <http://www.trieboldpaleontology.com/appalachiosaurus.html>.

"Appalachiosaurus." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachiosaurus#cite_note-4>.

King, David T., Jr. "Appalachiosaurus Montgomeriensis." Encyclopedia of Alabama. Encyclopedia of Alabama, n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2016. <http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2319>.

Paleo File: Deinocheirus

• Name means: “Wonderfully Terrible Hand”
• Height: 3-6 meters
• Weight: 9 tons
• Length: 13 meters
• Region: Gobi Desert, Mongolia

(Copyright: Andrey Atuchin)

         One of arguably the oddest dinosaur discoveries to date, Deinocheirus, has been an enigma for over 50 years. Ever since its discovery Deinocheirus, which translates from Latin to “Terrible Hand”, has captured the imagination of those with the right resources to know about it. Despite its enigmatic nature in the fossil record, Paleontologists were finally able to put the mystery of how the animal looked to rest in 2014.

(Copyright: Public Domain Wikipedia)

         The first fossils of Deinocheirus consisted of the massive forearms (only missing the claws on the right hand), the complete shoulder girdle, three dorsal vertebrae, five ribs, and the gastralia (commonly referred to as belly ribs). Polish Paleontologist, Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, found these remains in the Nemegt Formation of the Gobi Desert, Mongolia on July ninth 1965. Zofia, along with Paleontologist Rinchen Barsbold, were part of the 1963–1965 Polish-Mongolian paleontological expeditions when they found the remains. The arms were classified as a Theropod dinosaur, and considering the lack of extraneous material, the scientists had no idea as to what the animal looked like until the year 2012. In 2012, Phil R. Bell, Philip J. Currie, and Yuong-Nam Lee issued their findings of new Deinocheirus material. These scientists found more gastralia fossils in the same dig site of the prior team. What they found explained the scarcity of material from the dig site. They found bite marks on the gastralia that matched the teeth of the Tyrannosauid, Tarbosaurus, with which Deinocheirus shared its ecosystem. Then in 2013, Lee, Barsbold, Currie, and colleagues announced the discovery of two new Deinocheirus specimens at the annual Society of Vertebrate Paleontology conference. This find gave great insight into what the animal looked like and where the animal fit in, phylogenetically. Due to fossil poachers, much of the identifiable parts of the skeletons were gone; the heads, feet, and hands were all stolen. A short time later, word of the skull and hands making their way to the fossil black market helped the European museum acquire them. This skull solidified not only the identity of this bizarre dinosaur, but also nailed the final nail in the coffin to the secret of Deinocheirus.

(Copyright: Public Domain: Wikipedia)

(Copyright: Public Domain Wikipedia)

            Deinocheirus is known by only one species, coined Mirificus, which translates to ‘wonderful’. It is now known that Deinocheirus was a giant amongst Ornithomimids. It towered at a height of 3.5 to 6 meters and measured a length of 11 meters, and could have weighed as much as 6 tons; Deinocheirus is the largest example of Ornithomimosauria that currently exists. The fossils of Deinocheirus suggest omnivory, due to evidence of piscivory and herbivory found in its stomach. Gastroliths (stones swallowed to aid in digestion) and fish scales were found in the stomach cavity of the skeleton and points to a varied diet of plants, fish, and probably other types of vegetation like fruit. Deinocheirus lived during the Late Campanian/Early Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous Period of what is now Mongolia.

(Copyright: Public Domain Wikipedia)

       Deinocheirus’ relatives are Garudimimus and Beishanlong. All three of these animals make up their own family within Ornithomimosauria and share the characteristics of a slower mode of life and a bulkier build than most other Ornithomimids. Deinocheirus, being an omnivore, would have had little competition from its contemporaries with the only exception being Therizinosaurus; both shared similar characteristics and were likely omnivorous. 

      Deinocheirus shared its ecosystem with a wide range of animals like Tarbosaurus, Pinacosaurus, Saichania, Protoceratops, Oviraptor, Velociraptor, and more. Evidence strongly suggests that the first specimen met its end from a Tarbosaurus (a Mongolian relative of Tyrannosaurus) and, as such, must have been a predator of Deinocheirus. Alioramus, another relative to Tyrannosaurus, may have preyed on Deinocheirus as well. Deinocheirus lived in a place that, at the time, was home to vast swamps and river ways, which would have provided it a niche that most other herbivores and even most carnivores had yet to adapt to; Omnivory.

(Copyright: Art belongs to Geocities)

     The Paleontologists that found Deinocheirus quickly determined it to be a Theropod; however, what kind was impossible to know. At the time, 1965, the scientists thought the arms belonged to a massive carnivorous carnosaur-like animal. At this point in history, most carnivorous theropods were thrown together into one phylogenetic ‘unnatural’ grouping called Carnosauria (This has since been revoked due to further variation amongst the Theropoda family tree). Deinocheirus became identified as something other than a carnivorous Theropod only after the gastralia material had been found. The discovery of Therizinosaurid dinosaurs, like Nothronychus and Segnosaurus, made the possibility of herbivorous theropods a reality. Paleontologists had been debating whether Deinocheirus was an Ornithomimid or a Therizinosaurid until the latest skeletal discovery made the decision. Even though science knows more about Deinocheirus than ever before, aspects of its paleobiology and habits are still unknown and only more material will unearth the secret of Mongolia.

(Copyright: Art belongs to Geocities)

(Copyright: Scale belongs to PrehistoricWildlife)

Works Cited

"Deinocheirus." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2015.

Yong, Ed. "Deinocheirus Exposed: Meet The Body Behind the Terrible Hand." Phenomena Deinocheirus Exposed Meet The Body Behind the Terrible Hand Comments. National Geographic, 22 Oct. 2014. Web. 03 Nov. 2015.

"Deinocheirus." Deinocheirus. PrehistoricWildlife, n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2015.

Perkins, Sid. "Fossils Reveal 'beer-bellied' Dinosaur." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, 22 Oct. 2014. Web. 03 Nov. 2015.

Fossil Showcase: The London Specimen

        Watch our fossil showcase episode regarding the history of the fossil of Archaeopteryx known as, The London Specimen. Like if you like it, dislike it if you do not, subscribe to our Youtube channel if you want to see more, and comment to tell us what we did right, what we did wrong, and what we should do in the future!

Paleo File: Bistahieversor

• Pronunciation: (Bis-Tah-Hee-Ever-Sore)
• Meaning: "Bistahi Destroyer"
• Length: 30ft
• Height: 10ft
• Weight: 1 ton
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Time: 74 MYA
• Region: North America (New Mexico)

Art and Copyright belongs to Robert; SADistiknight on DeviantArt

Bistahieversor, which translates to “Bistahi Destroyer”, comes from the Kirtland Formation of New Mexico. It represents an unusual stage in the evolution of Tyrannosaurs, due to the shape of its head, whole above its eye socket, and slim, yet strong build.

Original Skull Material (Public Domain)

Reconstructed Skull (Public Domain)

Originally found in 1990, the name Bistahieversor never existed in its place existed Aublysodon. However, more material uncovered in 1992, including a partial skeleton and skull, revealed more of the animal’s anatomy enough to differentiate it from the genus Aublysodon. Then, again more material was uncovered in the Bisti wilderness of New Mexico in 1998 to further differentiate it from its initial genus. It was not until 2010 that the animal was renamed Bistahieversor.

Bistahieversor Reconstruction (Art and Copyright belongs to KindEdmarka on DeviantArt)

Bistahieversor contained features of more advanced Tyrannosaurs as well as more derived genus. Its skull was unusually deep in contrast to Tyrannosaurs that appeared later than it and after it, which suggests that the deepness of the skull is not a feature that evolved in advancement of the family but rather a characteristic that evolved due to environmental pressures. Bistahieversor has been placed in the subfamily Tyrannosaurinae, which consists of; Daspletosaurus, Teratophoneus, Lythronax, and Nanuqsaurus. The material is from both adolescent and adult individuals and as such, the growth stage can be roughly inferred, which is different from many other Tyrannosaur genus. The skull holds a whole above the eye socket found only in the adult skulls and was absent in the juvenile skull, which suggests that it only appeared in adulthood. It is thought that the whole would have held an air sac in life to reduce the skull’s weight. Bistahieversor measured an approximate 30 feet long and 10 feet tall, which reached the similar sizes of Daspletosaurus.

(Art and Copyright belongs to Raul Linia)

This find has elucidated a new predator of the southern hemisphere that had not been previously known, and represents a new spot in the ecosystem. Only more finds will help outline the animal’s hunting habits and perhaps give more insight into how the animal lived.

(Art and Copyright belongs to PrehistoricWildlife)

Works Cited:

"Bistahieversor." Bistahieversor. Prehistoricwildlife, n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2016. 

"Bistahieversor." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2016.

Rettner, Rachael. "New Tyrannosaur Species Discovered." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 28 Jan. 2010. Web. 12 Jan. 2016.

Paleo File: Alioramus

• Pronunciation: (Ah-Lee-Oh-Ram-Us)
• Meaning: "Different Branch"
• Length: 19ft
• Height: 6ft
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Time: Cretaceous (75 MYA)
• Region: Asia (Mongolia)

Alioramus, a midsized tyrannosaur from the Late Cretaceous (72-66MYA) of Mongolia, is yet another dinosaur grounded in mystery due to scant remains. However, even though this is the case, many details about the animal can be extrapolated from the few remains that have been uncovered.

Alioramus Skull Reconstruction

         A Soviet-Mongolian expedition to the Gobi Desert of Mongolia in the early 1970s uncovered the remains of Alioramus, but it was not until 1976 that soviet paleontologist, Sergei Kurzanov, identified the remains. Kurzanov found the animal to be a tyrannosaur and named it Alioramus remotus, which translates to “Removed Other Branch”. Kurzanov named his find after the fact that the animal contained characteristics of no other animal of the family it belonged to. Kurzanov placed the animal in the general superfamily Tyrannosauroidea. Alioramus remained a very partial species with only fragmentary skull material having been found, until another much more complete find was discovered in 2001 by Julia Clarke on another expedition to Mongolia with the American Museum of Natural History and Mongolian Academy of Sciences. This new species was named Altai, in homage to the Altai Mountains in Mongolia in 2009. This new find consisted of a nearly complete skull, missing just a few minor bones, a complete neck, large segments of the back, sacrum, tail, a nearly complete pelvis, and most of the hind limbs. Although still rather fragmentary, the animal can now be rather accurately reconstructed with a proper body.

Alioramus Reconstruction (Art and Copyright belongs to Fred Wierum; FredtheDinosaurman on DeviantArt)

          What is known of Alioramus is scant, but what is known is rather interesting. Alioramus is known only from juvenile specimens, and as such, the adult size cannot be fully determined. However, the juvenile specimens uncovered suggest an length of approximately 15-19ft; juvenile Alioramus would have stood as tall as an adult human. The most distinguishing features of Alioramus is its skull. The animal had a very gracile skull much more elongate than the majority of other known Tyrannosaurs (minus Nanotyrannus), not only this, but the skull sported a series of about 5-6 small hornlets that ran along the snout and jutted upwards about 1-2 inches. Due to the fact that the remains only represent juvenile specimens, scientists had hypothesized that Alioramus might be the juvenile of the larger tyrannosaur that it shared its environment with; Tarbosaurus. However, juvenile specimens identified to belong to the genus Tarbosaurus with differing characteristics to Alioramus suggest that the animal was a different species altogether. Slender features and legs like that of an Ornithomimosaur, suggests that Alioramus would have preyed upon smaller animals in comparison to the much larger and more robust Tarbosaurus.

Alioramus Reconstruction with scale (Art and Copyright belongs to Robinson Kunz; Teratophoneus on DeviantArt)

           Speaking of phylogeny, Alioramus has been placed under its own subfamily, Alioramini, which lies inside the family Tyrannosaurinae. Tyrannosaurinae consists of the later tyrannosaurs that shared the characteristics of a atrophied arms, large skulls, and slender legs. Alioramini’s only other member is the recently discovered Qianzhousaurus. Alioramus is related to the other, more well known, tyrannosaurs like; Albertosaurus, Daspletosaurus, Tarbosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus. The 2001 Alioramus finds found that, although the animal had a thin snout usually characteristic of more basal (primitive) forms, it was more related to the large robust forms seen living in close historical proximity to it; I.E. Tyrannosaurus.

            Mongolia, the region of which Alioramus called home, is home to a vast array of other animals that we know a lot about due to over 30 years of research and discovery in the region. Tarbosaurus, Deinocheirus, Gallimimus, Therizinosaurus, Homalocephale, and Nemegtosaurus all shared the ecosystem with Alioramus.

Works Cited:

"Alioramus." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alioramus>.

Switek, Brian. "Alioramus Altai: A New, Multi-Horned Tyrant." Smithsonian. Smithsonian, 6 Oct. 2009. Web. 30 Dec. 2015. <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/alioramus-altai-a-new-multi-horned-tyrant-54512057/?no-ist>.

Murray, Melissa. "Australian Museum." Alioramus Altai -. Australian Museum, 20 Nov. 2013. Web. 30 Dec. 2015. <http://australianmuseum.net.au/alioramus-altai>.

Hone, Dave. "Guest Post: A New Tyrannosaur - Alioramus Altai." Dave Hones Archosaur Musings. Word Press, 05 Oct. 2009. Web. 30 Dec. 2015. <https://archosaurmusings.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/guest-post-a-new-tyrannosaur-alioramus-altai/>.