recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Beibeilong

Credit: Zhao Chuang.

*Beibeilong* is an extinct genus of oviraptorid that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous

## Description

*Beibeilong* was discovered alongside a nest of *Macroelongatoolithus*, containing a possible embryo. The embryo was nicknamed "Baby Louie", and was discovered in the Henan Province in 1993.

*Beibeilong* was similar in size to *Gigantoraptor*, but was a more basal member of Caenagnathidae.

## Notable Specimens

* "Baby Louie": A possible embryo of *Beibeilong* preserved in the holotype. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that *Beibeilong* was a distinct taxa.
Asiapator

*Asiapator* is an extinct genus of apatemyid mammal that lived in Mongolia during the Middle Eocene.

## Description

*Asiapator* was named in 2021 based on a dentary fragment from the Irdinmanhan-aged Khaychin Ula 3 locality, Khaychin Formation. The di1 is replaced by the i1, dp2 the dp4 roots and an erupting p4. This marks the first apatemyid of Central Asia, additionally showing evidence of apatemyid dental replacement.. The first lower incisor and fourth lower premolar are diphyodont. Like all apatemyids except *Unuchinia*, *Asiapator* bears only one lower incisor. Similar to *Unuchinia* and differing from all other apatemyids, *Asiapator* has a simple and unmodified premolar. *Asiapator*, most likely, evolved from a North American taxon that immigrated into Mongolia.

## References

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10914-021-09574-5
Acanthotretella

Credit: The Burgess Shale - ROM.

*Acanthotretella* is an extinct genus of brachiopod that lived in North America and Asia during the Middle Cambrian.

## Description

*Acanthotretella*'s body is lined with spines, which are often proposed to be homologous with those of siphonotretids.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthotretella
Branta dickeyi

UF 87235, right carpometatarsus.

*Branta dickeyi* is an extinct species of geese in the genus *Branta* that lived in California, Florida and Oregon during the Early Pleistocene.

## Description

*Branta dickeyi* is known from holotype UCMP 26782, a complete right tibiotarsus found in the McKittrick asphalt in California. *B. dickeyi* was larger than other goose species, being the size of a swan. It was described by Loye Miller in 1922.  Other assigned specimens are UF 82966 (sternum manubrium), UF 87235 and UF 124570 (right carpometatarsi) from the Leisey Shell Pit of Florida; and CIT/LACM 62/3235 (sternum manubrium and proximal carpometacarpus end) specimens that were later assigned by Miller (1944) from the Owyhee Pliocene of Oregon. The former occurrence marks the first time this taxon appears in the fossil record.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/03/Vol-37-Part\_1-No-10.pdf
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/condor/v026n05/p0178-p0180.pdf
Alanqa

Credit: Joschua Knüppe.

*Alanqa* is an extinct genus of pterodactyloid that lived in Africa during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Alanqa* is known from five fragments, the front upper and lower jaws, and possibly neck vertebrae. Several of these fragments, undescribed, and referred to a pteranodontid. Additional jaw fragments were described and named in 2010 by Ibrahim, They were straight and pointed, like azhdarchids. Specimens were referred to cf. *Alanqa* in 2015. The partial remains bear bony protuberances, like the ones of *Alanqa*. This implies a special unction, possibly for display, anchoring muscles, or soft tissues. Flapling pterosaurs from the Kem Kem were tentatively assigned to *Alanqa* and *Apatorhamphus* in 2021. They were found to be immature rather than new species based on histological data. They found the niche of small flying animals would be filled by baby pterosaurs later in the Mesozoic, not by smaller pterosaurs or birds.

## Paleoecology

*Alanqa* fossils are recovered from the Kem Kem Formation, a region that used to be a freshwater river delta system. *Alanqa* likely layed midway down the food chain, preying on small invertebrates and mollusks, amphibians and small reptiles, and maybe small or juvenile dinosaurs. *Alanqa* may have been a food source for larger dinosaurs, like *Spinosaurus*, *Sauroniops* and *Carcharodontosaurus* and even madtsoiidea indet..

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alanqa
* https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667121003098
Banji

Credit: Dinomaniac on DeviantArt.

*Banji* is an extinct genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in China during the Late Cretaceous.

## History

The holotype is IVPP V 16896, a nearly complete skull and mandible that was donated to the Chinese Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology after being collected by an amateur near the city of Ganzhou, Jiangxi. The matrix around the specimen suggests an origin from the Nanxiong Formation, K-PG-aged. It's full name, given by Xing and Han (2010), translates to "striped crest dragon" after the characters 斑嵴 龍.

## Description

The crest was tall and like other oviraptorids, but is unique in the presence of vertical striations around the sides of the crest and grooves near the top of the mandible. Another autapomorphy includes an elongated nasal opening that is found after a curve in the crest and nearly reaching the orbits.
Australasicus

The Talgai skull, referred to Homo-proscopinus (Australasicus) talgajensis.

### Species

*Homo-proscopinus (Australasicus) talgajensis**Homo neanderthalensis (Australiscus) talgajensis*

### Diet

Omnivorous

Australiscus is a dubious subgenus of hominid that lived in Australia during the Late Pleistocene.

## History

This name was coined by Frassetto (1948) and referred to *Homo-proscopinus*, to refer to Australian *Homo sapiens*-grade remains. However, this model of human evolution is abandoned. In the first model *Homo-proscopinus*, has 1 species. In the second model, the specialized genus names are dropped for a generalized *Homo* that divides into two species: *Homo sapiens* and *Homo neanderthalensis*. The latter has 1 subspecies.

## Description

The subgenus is based on the Talgai skull, discovered in 1886 by fencing contractor William Naish in the wall of Dalryample Creek. The skull was eroded out of the wall by heavy rainfall. In 1896, it was sent to Sydney and examined by the Australian Museum, which was interesting in purchasing but could not negotiate a price. They settled on returning it. Until 1914, Prof. Edgeworth David visited to suggest that the skull was 20 kya old and was a "missing link", which was fueled by the Piltdown Man. Great cracks in the skull suggested that a blow to the head killed this individual, but it was actually the contraction and expansion of the clay soil while the skull was in situ. It is housed in the Talgai Museum. In 1968, a documentary was made on the skull.

## References

* https://www.persee.fr/doc/bmsap\_0037-8984\_1948\_num\_9\_1\_2828
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talgai\_Skull
Antlers Albanerpetontid

The Antlers Albanerpetontid is an unnamed genus of Amphibian that lived in Texas and Oklahoma during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

This taxon was named by Fox and Naylor (1982) as a species of *Albanerpeton, Albanerpeton arthridion,* but during the publication of *Yaksha,* it was realized that Albanerpeton was paraphylethic. Daza et al. (2020) said that all species known from the Mesozoic should be placed in their own genera.

## Classification

this phylogeny was recovered by Daza et al (2020):

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanerpeton
* https://www.palass.org/publications/palaeontology-journal/archive/42/3/article\_pp529-544
Agujaceratops

*Agujaceratops* is an extinct genus of chasmosaur that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Agujaceratops* is relatively large compared to other chasmosaurines, and extremely similar to *Pentaceratops* and related genera in form. *Agujaceratops* has a short nasal horn and two long curved brow horns, with an elongated frill, notched at its top and lined with triangular osteoderms. The strong embayment at the back of the frill gives it a heart shape, bearing 3 or 4 pairs of osteoderms. The osteoderms at the frills side have a strong scalloped appearance. The brow horns oriented up, and recurved backwards in the side view. *A. mavericus* has shorter brow horns and a shorter frill.

## Paleoecology

*Agujaceratops* is a quadrupedal herbivorous ceratopsian with a complex social life. This involves display of the frill and horns to impress potential mates and win territory. One case, preserves many individuals in a group at death, maybe caused by flood waters, drought or herding. However, large bonebeds of centrosaurines - most notably *Pachyrhinosaurus* and *Centrosaurus* - these types of burial are extremely uncommon for chasmosaurines. Due to the nature of the Aguja Formation's sediements where *Agujaceratops* have been found, the area may have been swampy, along the western margin of the Western Interior Seaway. *Agujaceratops* lived alongside *Leptorhynchos* and *Texacephale*, and been hunted by tyrannosaurs and *Deinosuchus*.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agujaceratops
Angelosaurus

Credit: Dmitry Bogdanov.

*Angelosaurus* is an extinct genus of caseid "pelycosaur" synapsid that lived in Texas during the Early Permian.

## Description

*A. dolani*, the type species, is known from a partial skull dating to the Kungurian. Like *Cotylorhynchus*, it was heavily built, large and herbivorous. It is differentiated by large temporal fenestra, large pineal and nasal fenestra and an upper jaw that has teeth overhanging the lower jaw. *Angelosaurus* has a pitted skull, uniform teeth, a probable barrel-shaped body, massive limbs and small cervicals. Unlike better known "pelycosaurs" *Dimetrodon* and *Edaphosaurus*, the vertebrae did not elongate to form a sail. *A. greeni* was named by Olson (1962) and *A. romeri* was named by Olson and Barghusen (1962).

## Paleoecology

Angelosaurus lived in the San Angelo Formation in Knox County Texas contemporary caseids *Caseoides* and *Caseopsis*. It may have been a prey item for *Dimetrodon*. Like all caseids, *Angelosaurus* was adapted for a dominant herbivorous lifestyle and evolutionally conservatism.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelosaurus
Barnes High Sauropod

Credit: Darren Naish.

The “Barnes High Sauropod” is a naked genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in Britain during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

The Barnes High taxon is a nickname given to MIWG-BP001, discovered around the Barnes High cliffs, Wessex Formation in 1992. This was owned by the privately run, unaccredited Dinosaur Farm Museum near Brighstone. The situation behind the remains is described as "complex" and is currently inaccessible to research. The skeleton comprises of presacral and anterior caudal vertebrae, a girdle and limb elements, which includes a near-complete forelimb. It is ~40% complete, described to be a brachiosaur or possibly the same as *Eucamerotus*, due to some vertebral similarities.

Recent information suggests the Barnes High sauropod is now in an accredited institution.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_informally\_named\_dinosaurs
* *British Dinosaurs* chapter on *Pelorosaurus* and *Eucamerotus*
Amargatitanis

Credit: Cisiopurple on DeviantArt.

*Amargatitanis* is an extinct genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in Argentina during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

Amargatitanis is known from the La Amarga Formation, where MACN pV N53 (the holotype) consists of a right ischium, 2 caudals, a and a partial right hindlimb. Pablo Ariel Gallina (2016) reclassified it as a dicraeosaurid.

## References

* https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Amargatitanis-macni-gen-et-sp-nov-MACN-PV-N53-Anterior-caudal-vertebra-in-posterior\_fig6\_222427603 [Fossil Specimen]
* https://www.researchgate.net/publication/300420946
* https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/94293/j.1096-3642.2012.00853.x.pdf;jsessionid=A91925AA52155F44FE9B3F8EFBD01E0F?sequence=1
* https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667121002135
* https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667116300507
* https://www.mindat.org/taxon-P140517.html
Brontoscorpio

*Brontoscorpio* is an extinct genus of incertae sedis scorpion that lived in England during the Late Silurian.

## Description

*Brontoscorpio* may have looked like a massive scorpion, with eight sprawled legs, two large pincers, the signature recurved tail with a sickle claw and a body lined with keratin armour. The type species, *B. anglicus*, was described based on a single partial pedipalps, nearly 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) long. The fossil was found in terrestrial deposits, however the size of the scorpion meant that it either had to molt in water, or lived in a semi or fully aquatic habitat with the ability to surface from time-to-time. *Brontoscorpio* was very large, and a likely predator.

Since the holotype is barely assignable to scorpions, *B. angilicus* is often considered a nomen dubium, although this is not official.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brontoscorpio
Atopopsyllus

*Atopopsyllus* is an extinct genus of pulicid flea that lived in the Dominican during the Late Eocene/Lower Miocene.

## Description

*Atopopsyllus* has two major traits which warranted for the erection of Atopopsyllini. These are a five-segmented maxillary pulps and cerci-like organisms located on the abdominal terminal X. Addtionally, *Atopopsyllus* bears no ctenidia, tiny eyes, lanceolate terminal segment at the maxillary palps, legs that have six notches adorning the dorsal margin of the tibiae, the distitarsomeres have five pairs of lateral plantar bristles and near-straight ungues that have a wide distance between the basal lobe and the tarsal claw. The specimen is male. Trypanosomes and coccobacilli are in the rectum, with coccobacilli in the epipharynx. Some of the coccobacilli in the rectum is bacteria resembling the bubonic plague.

## References

https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/52/6/1234/869360
Arackar

Credit: @mauricio\_alverez\_art.

*Arackar* is an extinct genus of lithostrotian titanosaur that lived in Chile during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Arackar* was first discovered in 1993, only named in 2021, by Rubilar. The full name, *Arackar licanantay*, means "bones of the Atacamenians" in Kunza. The holotype is estimated to be 21 feet long (6.3 meters), the maximum size being yet unknown. *Arackar* was placed in titanosauria by Rubilar-Rogers et al., and within it, Lithostrotia. *Arackar* is classified as a sister taxa to *Isisaurus*, together forming a sister clade across from *Rapetosaurus* in Saltasauridae. This clade is sister to another consisting of Opisthocoelicaudiinae and *Trigonosaurus*; Saltasaurinae. *Arackar* is monotypic, originates from the Hornitos Formation, and lived 83.6-66 million years ago (Campanian-Maastrichtian).

## References

1. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-56814655
Baltocteniza

*Baltocteniza* is an extinct genus of spider that lived in Europe during the Early Eocene.

## Description

*Baltocteniza*, known from a subadult female specimen. was discovered in a block of clear amber. This genus has several differences between other spider genera, like specialized tubercles on the end of its body.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltocteniza
Antifer

Credit: Francisco Hueichaleo on Artstation.

*Antifer* is an extinct genus of deer that lived in South America from the Pleistocene to the Holocene.

## History

*Antifer* was named after Captain Antifer, a character in Jules Vernes novel detailing his voyage to the southern hemisphere. Antifer was named by Ameghino in 1889.

*A. niemeyeri* is sometimes considered a junior synonym of *A. ultra*, with the entire genus often called a subjective synonym of *Blastocerus*, but this is not widely accepted. *A. niemeyeri* is named from antlers from Taguatagua and Quereo, not assigned a holotype. Today, the other two are widely considered valid.

## Description

*Antifer* is large, known from large, non-palmated shed antlers. *Antifer* was added to cervidae by Carrol in 1988. *A. ultra* is centered in Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil, extending across the Andes and central Chile. *A. ensenadensis* was named from the Ensenadan age, which it lived, but likely persisted into the Holocene with *A. ultra*. This is based on material from Corrientes. A. sp. are known from two fossil sites.

Substantial ontological variation occurs in both species, which leads to identification to sometimes be difficult. Antifer was likely the largest South American cervids, with *A. ultra* being larger. Fontoura et al. (2020) estimate a 200 kilogram body mass, with both species differing in antler morphology and proportions. *A. ensenadensis* is differentiated via wider, more robust antler sitting laterally on the skull. *A. ultra* is differentiated by a larger size.

## Paleoecology

*Antifer* entered the Americas via the Great American Faunal Interchange. This event, caused by large land bridges forming between North, South America and surrounding areas. Antifer was hunted by dire wolves, *Theriodictis*, saber-toothed cats, *Arctotherium* and humans.

*A. ultra* is known from hot and humid regions of Argentinian Mesopotamia and the dry and cool Pampas and north Patagonia. In some areas it is contempraneous with Hippocamelus bisulcus, which lives in cold forests and periglacial scrub. *A. ultra* is associated with a broader range and open habitats, with both traditionally valid species not occurring in the same sites, likely having exercised allopatric niche-separation. Chilean Antifer correlate with warm periods and reduced precipitation and arboreal pollen. Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene Quebrada Quereo Formation, which houses Antifer, show it lived with *Amerhippus*, *Palaeolama*, mylodontids, gomphotheres, *Dusicyon* and *Panthera onca*. The Chuí Formation presents even more fauna, finding *Morenelaphus*, *Toxodon*, *Notiomastodon platensis*, *Megatherium*, *Eremotherium*, *Protocyon* and *Smilodon*.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifer
* https://www.theextinctions.com/antifer
Argentavis

Credit: Mark Witton.

*Argentavis* is an extinct genus of Teratorn that lived in Argentina during the Late Miocene.

## Description

*Argentavis* is the largest bird discovered. Like vultures, *Argentavis* probably had a naked head and neck eating into a corpse without ruffling or dirtying its feathers. *Argentavis*' feet were very weak, Making it impossible for the animal to lift startled prey off of the ground.

## Paleoecology

*Argentavis* soared above grassy plains, swooping down on other animals to kill them, or even scavenging corpses.

## Reference

Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life, p. 144
Aucasaurus

Credit: Cisiopurple on DeviantArt.

*Aucasaurus* is an extinct genus of abelisaurid theropod that lived in Argentina, South America during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Aucasaurus* became famous by having the most complete fossil of any known abelisaurid species. It was a medium sized abelisaurid theropod that coexisted, hunted and likely came into conflict with several other species of dinosaurs and theropods of its timescale and habitat. It grew to be about 4.3  metres long and is said to weigh 1,500 kg. This theropod live around several species of sauropods, albeit specifically considering the size difference, hunting or even injuring any adult sauropod would be impossible and suicidal for the animal, hatchling, juvenile and subadult Sauropods are an entirely different subject. In fact there are several somewhat speculative interpretations of this particular theropod efficiently raiding the nests of Sauropods.

That aside this abelisaurid would be effective at hunting small to medium sized prey, considering its agility and physical abilities. This theropods behavior is unknown, there are interpretations of it being a pack animal, albeit abelisaurid social behavior is unclear, aside from one specific species *Majungasaurus* being cannibalistic - although it is unclear if the cannibalism cases represent scavenging the dead similar to many carnivores of modern era, or are active hunting.

## References

* https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/aucasaurus.html
* http://novataxa.blogspot.com/2012/11/2002-aucasaurus-garridoi.html
* https://dinosaurpictures.org/Aucasaurus-pictures
* https://archive.org/details/g.s.paul2016theprincetonfieldguidetodinosaurs/page/n87/mode/2up
Brachyprotoma

*Brachyprotoma*, or the short-faced skunk, is an extinct genus of skunk that lived in North America during the Pleistocene.

## Description

According to Brown (1908), generic factors in *Brachyprotoma* jaws include three packed premolars.

## Synonyms

* *B. brevimala*
* *B. putorius*
* *B. spelaea*
* *B. pristina*

## Reassigned Species

* *B. breviramus*
* *B. leptops*
* *B. fossidens*

## References

* https://www.utep.edu/leb/Pleistnm/taxaMamm/Mephitidae.htm
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachyprotoma
* Paleobiology Database
Branta

This page is about a genus that contains extinct and extant species; species marked with † are extinct.

## Statistics

### Synonyms

*Geochen*
 *Nesochen*
 *Anas bernicla*

### Diet

Herbivorous

*Branta* is a genus of geese that has lived in North America, Europe, and Hawaii since the Miocene.

## Species

* *B. bernicla* (type) (Brant or Brent Goose)
* *B. ruficollis* (Red-breasted Goose)
* *B. sandvicensis* (Nene or Hawaiian Goose)
* *B. canadensis* (Canada Goose)
* *B. leucopsis* (Barnacle Goose)
* *B. hutchinsii* (Cackling Goose)
* †*B. hylobadistes* (Nene-nui or wood-walking goose)
* †*B. rhuax* (Giant Hawaii Goose)
* †*B. woolfendeni*
* †*B. thessaliensis*
* †*B. dickeyi*
* †*B. esmeralda*
* †*B. howardae*
* †*B. propinqua*
* †*B. hypsibata*
Ailurarctos

*Ailurarctos* is an extinct genus of panda that lived in Asia during the Late Miocene.

## Description

*Ailurarctos* is the oldest known ursid. Differences in the teeth of *Ailurarctos* and modern forms suggest mosaic evolution occurring during the last 2 million years. Like modern giant pandas, *Ailurarctos* had false thumbs that allowed it to grip bamboo, suggesting that the panda's specialized bamboo diet goes back to as early as 6 to 7 million years ago.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailurarctos
* https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-13402-y
Anisodon

Credit: Roman Uchytel.

*Anisodon* is an extinct genus of chalicothere that lived in Europe during the Late Miocene.

## Description

*Anisodon* stood at about 150 centimeters tall and weighed about 200 kilograms. Each large forelimb bore a large hooked claw that was used to hook down high plants and to deter predators such as bear dogs and saber-toothed cats.
Andrewsarchus

Credit: J.A. Chirinos.

*Andrewsarchus* is an extinct genus of cetancodontamorph mammal that lived in Inner Mongolia, China during the Middle Eocene.

## Description

   *Andrewsarchus* is known only from crania that are on average 33 inches long. It was likely quite bear-like, which would make *Andrewsarchus* about 4 meters long, 800 kilograms heavy and 1.8 meters tall. It has elongate, strong jaws that it used to capture prey. It was likely opportunistic in it's hunting, where it likely did so near rivers and coasts. This is thought because most mesonychid remains are found near these bodies of waters.

## Classification

Artiodactyls like *Andrewsarchus* are ungulates rather than carnivorans, despite their convergent morphology. Since it was likely bulky with smaller feet, it was probably related to hippopotamids..

## References

1. ↑ https://www.amnh.org/explore/news-blogs/on-exhibit-posts/andrewsarchus
2. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226581682\_Early\_Paleogene\_stratigraphic\_sequences\_mammalian\_evolution\_and\_its\_response\_to\_environmental\_changes\_in\_Erlian\_Basin\_Inner\_Mongolia\_China
3. ↑ http://www.ivpp.cas.cn/cbw/gjzdwxb/xbwzxz/201106/P020110622316838839505.pdf
4. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11322801/
5. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2740860/
6. ↑ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007062
7. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229017949\_New\_Stratigraphic\_Data\_from\_the\_Erlian\_Basin\_Implications\_for\_the\_Division\_Correlation\_and\_Definition\_of\_Paleogene\_Lithological\_Units\_In\_Nei\_Mongol\_Inner\_Mongolia
Boreonykus

Credit: Cisiopurple on DeviantArt.

*Boreonykus* is an extinct genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur that lived in Canada during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

The remains of *Boreonykus* were uncovered in Pipestone Creek sometime during the 1980's in a bonebed alongside twenty seven adult *Pachyrhinosaurus* remains. They were originally dubbed *Saurornitholestes* sp.. When initially described, a single autapomorphy was noticed: The notable ridges lining the fronts of the divots around the supratemporal fenestrae rise at an acute angle of about 55°, angled towards the flank of the animal. The genus was calculated to have a quick species turn-over rate, and faunal provincialism.

## Notable Specimens

* TMP 1989.055.004: A right frontal bone, recovered from the Wapiti Formation.
* TMP 1988.055.0129: A rear caudal vertebrae.
* UALVP 53597: A claw belonging to the second finger.
* TMP 1986.055.0184.1: The sickle claw from a foot.
Aucornis

*Aucornis* is a dubious genus of terror bird that lived in Argentina during the Middle to the Late Oligocene.

## Classification

*Aucornis* was named in 1898, from several bones collected in Argentina. The genus was later reevaluated and combined into a single genus; *Physornis*.

## Description

*Aucornis* is roughly 2.6-2.7 meters tall, and is thought to be a cursorial ground predator.

## References

1. ↑ https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=53596
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physornis
Aratasaurus

*Aratasaurus* is an extinct genus of medium-sized theropod that lived in Brazil during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

*Aratasaurus* had hollow bones and three-toed limbs. According to paleontologist Juliana Sayao, the fossil of the animal, who apparently died young, indicated it already weighed around 34.25 kilos and was 3.12 meters in length.

## Classification

—Juliana Sayao
Not much is known about the ancestors of *Aratasaurus*, Sayao said. However, the fossil indicates that the species stemmed from a line of dinosaurs even more ancient in origin than the one that was said to have given rise to the tyrannosaurus.

—Juliana Sayao
According to paleontologist Xin Cheng, "*Aratasaurus* is a sister lineage to *Zuolong*, a coelurosauria from the Jurassic of China." Chen said this suggests that older coelurosauria were even more widely distributed across Earth and over a longer period of time.  Months after publication it was given a ZooBank entry and made an official genus.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.dw.com/en/scientists-discover-115-million-year-old-fossil-of-new-dinosaur-species-in-brazil/a-54134961
2. ↑ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-67822-9
3. ↑ http://www.zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/430ed4fc-3580-4eff-b1b7-226d0dbf0b34
Arctocyonides

A. cf. weigelti.

*Arctocyonides* is an extinct genus of arctocyonid "condylarth" mammal that lived in the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and Germany from the Paleocene to the Eocene.

## Description

Van Valen (1978) and Russel (1964) found *Claenodon* is a junior synonym of *Arctocyonides*. Comparison of *Arctocyon ferox* and *Arctocyon* and *Arctocyonides spp.* show North American species are much closer to *A. primaevus*. *Arctocyonides* has square and rectangular upper and lower molars, with more developed conules in the upper molars. The lower teeth are more bunodont, which is not lost in worn specimens. The upper molar cingula and premolars are narrower. All these characteristics differentiate *Arctocyonides* from *Arctocyon*. However, Albuquerque (2004) finds *Claenodon* is more likely a synonym of *Arctocyon*.

A cf. *Arctocyonides* was recovered marine deposists in the Selandian-aged Orp Sand Member, Heers Formation.

## Species

* *A. arenae*
* *A. jeffreyi*
* *A. trouessarti*
* *A. weigelti*

## References

1. ↑ https://books.google.ca/books?id=fJivCQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
2. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265180301\_New\_mammals\_from\_the\_marine\_Selandian\_of\_Maret\_Belgium\_and\_their\_implications\_for\_the\_age\_of\_the\_Paleocene\_continental\_deposits\_of\_Walbeck\_Germany
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon\_no=42201
AMNH FR 1240

Credit: Skye McDavid.

"*Crocodylus*" *acer*, AMNH FR 1240, is an extinct species of crocodilians that lived in Utah during the Eocene.

## History

The holotype of "*Crocodylus*" *acer*, AMNH FR 1240, was found in the Manti Beds of Utah, part of the Eocene-age Green River Formation. It is a well-preserved skull. It was described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1882 as the species *Crocodylus acer*. However, Cope's description was poor, containing factual errors and lacking a diagnosis.

The skull was redescribed by Charles Mook in 1921, who established a proper diagnosis for the species.

In 2000, a phylogenetic analysis of crocodilians by Christopher Brochu found that it was outside of the family Crocodylidae, and represented a new, yet unnamed genus. A 2018 phylogenetic analysis by Michael Lee and Adam Yates supported Brochu's conclusion that it was not a member of Crocodylidae but recovered it in an even more basal position outside of the Longirostres.  All of these analyses place it as a new genus.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/handle/2246/1732?show=full
2. ↑ https://bioone.org/journals/copeia/volume-2000/issue-3/0045-8511(2000)000%5b0657%3aPRADTO%5d2.0.CO%3b2/Phylogenetic-Relationships-and-Divergence-Timing-of-Crocodylus-Based-on-Morphology/10.1643/0045-8511(2000)000%5B0657:PRADTO%5D2.0.CO;2.short
3. ↑ https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2018.1071
Balaenoptera siberi

*Balaenoptera Siberi* is a doubted species of baleen whale that lived in Peru during the Late Miocene.

## Description

*B. siberi* is known from a complete skeleton with skull, baleen, mandible, flippers and vertebrae, housed in Allejandro Pezzia Asserto's private collection. The paratype, however, is held at the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart, Germany. Its skull is 228 centimeters (7.48 feet) long and 111 centimeters (44 inches) wide, intermediate of the common minke whale and the sei whale. It was found in Aguada de Lomas and Sacaco (SAO horizon) of the Pisco Formation. At the time of description, the former was aged Late Miocene-Late Pliocene, with the exact sediments dated to 8 million years old (Huayquerian-aged). However, Marx and Fordyce (2015) dated them to the Late Tortonian-Early Messinian, 7-8 million years ago. The latter were previously dated to the early Late Pliocene (3.9 million years ago), with Ehret et al. (2012) finding a Messinian age, more than 5.75 million years ago.

## Paleoecology

The Pisco Formation provides many mammals, including toothed whales, baleen whales, porpoises, seals, marine dolphins, river dolphins and aquatic sloths. Additionally, fossil penguins and other birds have been recovered, with fossil teeth of the largest sharks.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balaenoptera\_siberi
Berthasaura

Credit: namodinosaur.

*Berthasaura* is an extinct genus of noasaurid ceratosaurian that lived in Paraná, Brazil during the Late Cretaceous.

## Discovery

*Berthasaura* was found in the Late Cretaceous-aged Goio-Erê Formation, dated to 85 million years old. The genus name combines the first name of woman's rights activist Bertha Maria Júlia Lutz with the feminine "saura", meaning lizard. The epithet, leopoldinae, is after Maria Leopoldina.

## Description

MN 7821-V, a nearly complete skeleton (being one of the most complete dinosaurs known from Cretaceous Brazil) with most of the axial series, a skull, limbs, ribs and hips. The axial series is the most complete of any noasaurid. *Berthasaura* sports a thick beak on the rostrum, which suggests herbivory. The specimen is a subadult, suggesting it was herbivorous for it's entire life, unlike *Limusaurus*. It is extremely strange for a ceratosaur, almost appearing similar to many ornithischian dinosaurs.

## References

1. ↑ http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/berthasaura-leopoldinae-10285.html
2. ↑ https://www.newsweek.com/paleontologists-find-very-rare-toothless-dinosaur-puzzled-what-ate-brazil-1651338
3. ↑ https://www.sciencealert.com/very-rare-dinosaur-species-remains-have-just-been-discovered-in-brazil
4. ↑ https://www.haberler.com/brezilya-da-dissiz-bir-dinozor-kalintisi-14540664-haberi/
5. ↑ https://marketresearchtelecast.com/berthasaura-leopoldinae-the-new-species-of-toothless-dinosaur-discovered-in-brazil-and-this-is-the-reason-for-its-name/206148/
6. ↑ https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/geral/noticia/2021-11/brazils-national-museum-unveils-discovery-extremely-rare-dinosaur
Australovenator

Before formal naming or identification, this organism was known as the following on this wiki:
**Polar Allosaur**

## Statistics

### Diet

Carnivorous

*Australovenator* is an extinct genus of megaraptoran theropod dinosaurs that lived in Australia during the Early-Middle Cretaceous.

## Classification

Remains of the animal include an astralagus from Cape Peterson, Victoria, Australia, and was suggested to indicate that Australia was a type of refugium for animals that had gone extinct in other locations and assigning it to *Allosaurus*. However, Samuel Welles refuted the evidence, citing it appeared like an ornithomimid, with the original authors defending their claims. Fifteen years later, Daniel Chure examined the fossil, finding it was not *Allosaurus*, but was an allosauroid. In the description of *Fukuiraptor*, Yoichi Azuma and Phil Currie noted it bore resemblance to their genus. Sometimes, said specimen is given the museum name of *Allosaurus* "robustus". Hocknull et al. in PLoS ONE (2009) argue the specimen is of *Australovenator* and has been variously called *A.* sp. since.

## References

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australovenator
2. ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03115518108565427
3. ↑ Allosaurus (Saurischia, Theropoda) not yet in Australia, Samuel P. Welles, 1983
4. ↑ Aussie Allosaurus after all, Ralph E. Molnar; Timothy F. Flannery and Thomas H. V. Rich, 1985
5. ↑ A reassessment of the Australian Allosaurus and its implications for the Australian refugium concept, Daniel J. Chure, 1998
6. ↑ A new carnosaur (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Japan, Yoichi Azuma, Phillip J. Currie, 2000
7. ↑ Dinosaurs: The Encyclopedia (3rd supplement), pages 221-223, Donald F. Glut, 2003
8. ↑ New Mid-Cretaceous (Latest Albian) Dinosaurs from Winton, Queensland, Australia, Hocknull; White; Tischler; Calleja and Cook et al., 2009
Agustinia

Credit: Cisiopurple on Deviant.

*Agustinia* is a dubious genus of rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur that lived in Argentina during the Early Cretaceous.

## History

*Agustinia* was discovered in 1997 during a Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales expedition several kilometers west of Picún Leufú, Neuquén province in the Lohan Cura Formation. This expedition started in 1996 and worked to discover new vertebrates from this formation. The generic name is after Agustin Martinelli, an expeditioner who discovered it. The species name is after Giancarlo Ligabue, an Italian philanthropist that funded the expedition.

## Classification

*Agustinia* was initially placed in Agustiniidae. This is controversial because *Agustinia* is fragmentary and it bears a mosaic of diplodocoid and titanosaurian characters with several features suggesting placement in somphocpondyli. However, it is impossible to clarify it's classification any more. Kristina Curry Roger places it in lithostrotia. D'emic et al. suggest undiagnostic features allow for placement in neither Diplodocoidea or Titanosauria, instead labeling *Agustinia* as a nomen dubium. In 2022, Bellardini et al. reappraised, reclassified and redefined the genus as a basal rebbachisaurid.

## Description

*Augustinia* is known from fragmented vertebrae, hips, a fibula, tibia, 5 metatarsals, a femur and caudals. The femur was too fragmented to collect. At first, it was interpreted as having a *Stegosaurus*-like double row of osteoderms. However, they were found to be parts of the ribs and hips, and that the remains were too initially tell. This was further evidence by their structure not matching other titanosaurs. Part of the hips were tentatively identified as the fragmentary ilium. The fibula is 895 millimeters long, indicating a length of about 15 meters (49 feet). This taxon is poorly described and the material has little diagnostic features that can differentiate it. Thus, some consider Agustinia a nomen dubium. The lower half of the tibia is thin in the front, indicating it being thinner than *Antarctosaurus*, *Saltasaurus* and others. The pedal elements are similar to other titanosaurs.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agustinia
* https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08912963.2022.2142911?journalCode=ghbi20#.Y3PUV0Psf1w.twitter
Brouweria

*Brouweria* is an extinct genus of elopsid fish that lived in Indonesia during the Miocene.

## Description

*Brouweria* was named by L.F. de Beaufort (1926). De Beaufort defines the genus by the following; the parietals are known to contact, which separates the supraoccipital from the frontals. Praefrontals are developed, the mouth is large and bordered by the praemaxillary from the in the front and the maxillary from the behind. Teeth are small, if present at all, the opercular series is complete, meta-ecto and ento-pterygoids present. Few vertebrae are known, constricting nearer to the middle with a canal to fit the spinal chord. The dorsals are of moderate length, the caudals deeply-fork and only 3 "normal vertebrae" participate through the haemalspines to support the caudals. Cycloid scales and a simple lateral line are also present.

In the original description, two species were coined: *B. striata* and *B. robusta*. The former is alarge individual preserving the head and anterior of the body. However, *B. striata* was tentatively placed into the genus despite scarce evidence for this, as expressed in the original description. Instead, it was placed in *Brouweria* because it can not fit anywhere else in Elopsidae. De Beaufort also notes a *B. sp.*, a large individual lacking a head and the anterior portion of the body. In some ways, such as grooves that generally radiate more, this individual can be distinguished from *B. robusta*. This specimen is about 250 millimeters long but the individual is certainly not below 400 millimeters. *B. sp.* is tentatively assigned the genus because "it is easier to refer a fossil, which bears a name". The specimens of *B. robusta* were named Specimen A and Specimen B. It may have lived similarly to other elopsids.

## References

L. F. de Beaufort. 1926. On a collection of marine fishes from the Miocene of South Celebes. *Geologische Onderzoekingen in den Oostelijken Oost-Indischen Archiepel* (digitized)
Brontornis

Credit: John Sibbick.

*Brontornis* is an extinct genus of terror bird or possible anseriform that lived in the Americas from the Early to the Middle Miocene.

## Description

*Brontornis* is one of the largest birds to have ever existed, and the largest of phorusrhacidae. It is the heaviest terror bird, behind *Kelenken* in skull lengths and height. Comparisons of the tarsimetatarsi of two *B. burmeisteri*, FM-P13259 and the lectotype MLP-91, from the same formation show no anatomical differences, apart from size. The first is a third smaller than the second. It is thought that these are examples of intraspecific variation, possibly sexual dimorphism. They might represent a new species, however.
Alopias grandis

Credit: Hodari Nundu on DeviantArt

*Alopias grandis*, sometimes known as the giant thresher, is an extinct species of shark that lived in the Calvert Formation of Virginia, Maryland, & South Carolina[*citation needed*] from the Oligocene to the Late Miocene.

## Description

Comparisons between shark teeth estimate the giant thresher was around the same size as the extant great white shark. It is unlikely the giant thresher possessed the massive elongated tail lobe characteristic of modern threshers. Several specimens unearthed from the Burdigalian show evolving serrations, likely transitional between the giant thresher and the serrated giant thresher. It's teeth are characteristic, with smooth cutting edges and a strongly recurved crown. It is rare, but more common than other extinct *Alopias*. In the Early Miocene Marks Head Formation, A. grandis teeth are rare.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alopias\_grandis
* https://twitter.com/CofCNatHistory/status/1458824894242869252
* https://twitter.com/CofCNatHistory/status/1471874380238139392/photo/1
* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=132706
Ankarapithecus

A restoration of MTA 2125.

*Ankarapithecus* is an extinct genus of ape that lived in Turkey during the Late Miocene.

## History

*A. meteai* was anmed by Ozansoy (1965) from a mandibular fragment and postcanines from Central Anatolia. This specimen was recovered from the middle Sinap levels, Sinap series at Sinap Tepe.

## Description

*Ankarapithecus* is similar to *Sivapithecus* and weighed about 27 kilograms (60 pounds). This has led some to group it into the genus. However, there are some features that do not link them to *Pongo*, like *Sivapithecus* is. This suggests *Ankarapithecus* is from an early radiation of hominids in Asia. This would explain Ankarapithecus as retaining archaic *Dryopithecus* features and having the Anatolian population being a relict. This would suggest *Ankarapithecus* is from an early Asian dispersal of *Sivapithecus* that evolved into a different species. Remains were found near Ankara during the 1950s.

## Classification

There is debate if Ankarapithecus should be kept a distinct genus, if it should be sunken into *Sivapithecus* as a subjective synonym, or if it should be recombined as *Sivapithecus meteai*. Begun et al. (1998) resolve the following cladogram based on the affinities they discuss:

They also find the following cladograms to be less likely:

Begun and Geraads (2003) reafirmed the first one as true, modifying it to have *Lufengpithecus* included as a clade below *Ankarapithecus* clade that splits into the *Ankarapithecus* clade and then into the *Sivapithecus*/*Pongo* clade.

## Notable Specimens

* AS95-500 "Turkish Delight": A skull and mandible discovered in 1999 from locality 12 of the southernmoust hilltop of Delikayincak Tepe of the Sinap Formation.
* MTA 2125: A lower face and palate found at locality 12.

## Paleoecology

*Anakarapithecus* lived in an environment that was likely warm and humid. It was a savanna-woodland that was probably forested, based on the large amount of browser and suid taxa recovered. Many herbivorous animals also indicate that it was relatively open. Primates diverge at the middle level here.

## References

1. ↑ Ozansoy F (1965) E´tude des Gisements continentaux de des mammife`res due Cenozoique de Turquie. Mem. Soc. Geol. France
2. ↑ https://johnhawks.net/weblog/fossils/apes/ankarapithecus/ankarapithecus\_overview.html
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankarapithecus
https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=133708
5. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239926194\_Dispersal\_patterns\_of\_Eurasian\_hominoids\_Implications\_from\_Turkey
6. ↑ https://twitter.com/tgyksy/status/1471827590537265154/photo/1
7. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8684462/
8. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9545074/
Archaeopteryx

Credit: Gabriel Ugueto.

Ar*chaeopteryx is* an extinct genus of archaeopterygid dinosaur that lived in Europe during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

*Archaeopteryx* had large feathers on its arms, tail and legs used for gliding or flying short distances. *Archaeopteryx* was once thought to be the earliest bird, but the discoveries of *Anchiornis*,*Xiaotingia*,*Aurornis* and *Asteriornis* proved that *Archaeopteryx* wasn't the oldest bird. It is disputed if *Archaeopteryx* was able to fly primitively or if it was limited to gliding. In 2003, Scott Hartman created an interpretation of *Archaeopteryx* based on Larry Martin's ideas of early birds as a thought experiment, which he nicknamed "Martinopteryx".

## Synonyms

### Genus Synonymy

* *Urvogel* (German name)
* *Griphosaurus* (rejected)
* *Griphornis* (rejected)
* *Archaeornis*
* Petronievics
* Jurapteryx
* Wellnhoferia*?*

### Species Synonymy

* *A. macrura*
* A. siemensii*?*
* *A. owenii* (rejected name)
* *A. recurva*
* A. bavarica

## Paleoecology

*Archaeopteryx* led a lifestyle of gliding from tree-to-tree in search of small animals and insects.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx
* https://twitter.com/skeletaldrawing/status/1506352550194429958
Aeger

*Aeger* is an extinct genus of prawn that lived from the Middle Triassic to the Late Cretaceous.

## Species

* *A. brevirostris*
* *A. brodiei*
* *A. elegans*
* *A. elongatus*
* *A. foersteri*
* *A. fraconicus*
* *A. gracilis*
* *A. hidalguensis*
* *A. insignis*
* *A. laevis*
* *A. lehmanni*
* *A. libanensis*
* *A. macropus*
* *A. marderi*
* *A. muensteri*
* *A. robustus*
* *A. rostrospinatus*
* *A. spinipes*
* *A. straeleni*
* *A. tipularius*
Ankylosphenodon

Credit: V.H. Reynoso.

*Ankylosphenodon* is an extinct genus of sphenodontid lizard that lived in Mexico during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

*Ankylosphenodon* shows a herbivorous diet and been aquatic due to its pachyostotic skeleton. The animals teeth constantly grew throughout its life.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankylosphenodon

https://www.jstor.org/stable/1306891?seq=1
Ankylorhiza

Credit: Robert W. Boessenecker.

*Ankylorhiza* is an extinct genus of dolphin that lived in South Carolina during the Early Miocene.

## History

It was first hinted at under the name "Genus Y" before publication. In 2021, a second, unnamed species of *Ankylorhiza* was brought to light on the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History Twitter account. A large mandible was donated to the Mace Brown Museum in 2021. It seems to preserve two teeth.

## Description

Ankylorhiza is known from a single skeleton that was about 15 feet long. *Ankylorhiza* has long teeth, which allowed it to hunt prey like killer whales. Though they are barely related, they exhibit similar traits. This suggests that two separate cetacean groups evolved similar traits, though not being closely derived. The bone structure points to *Ankylorhiza* being an apex predator, and had echolocation. Predatory whales of today tend to lack echolocation, a unique trait to the particular niche Ankylorhiza inhabits. Large teeth on the lower jaw were termed "mandibular tusks" by the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History. The jaw is has a convergent resemblence to *Gavialosuchus*.

A second, larger and unnamed *Ankylorhiza* species is known to exist. It is known from a well-preserved mandible, CCNHM 1075. It is 20% larger than A. tiedemani.

## Paleoecology

*Ankylorhiza* likely became apex predator after the last sperm whales died 5 million years ago, and killer whales evolved 1 or 2 million years ago.

## Gallery

Material from a new *Ankylorhiza* species.The "mandibular tusks".A jaw donated to the Mace Brown Museum in 2021.
**Credit: Robert Boessenecker.**
## References

* https://phys.org/news/2020-07-foot-long-skeleton-extinct-dolphin-parallel.html
* https://twitter.com/CofCNatHistory/status/1445793722155900929
* https://twitter.com/CofCNatHistory/status/1450953558380142594
* https://twitter.com/CoastalPaleo/status/1463157547653902338
* https://twitter.com/CoastalPaleo/status/1281242532505141249
* https://twitter.com/CofCNatHistory/status/1466485838443917315
Agroecomyrmex

*Agroecomyrmex* is an extinct genus of ant that lived during the Middle Eocene in Europe.

## Description

Known from five individuals (four curled workers and one alate female), *Agroecomyrmex* is known from specimens trapped in amber. The worker ants are curled, obscuring their features. *Agroecomyrmex* has a distinct club on its antennae, and rounded mandibles.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agroecomyrmex