recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Australotitan

Before formal naming or identification, this organism was known as the following on this wiki:
**Winton Formation titanosaur** and **"Bananabendersaurus"**

## Statistics

### Diet

Herbivorous

*Australotitan* is an extinct genus of titanosaurian dinosaur that lived in Australia during the Middle Cretaceous.

## Description

*Australotitan* is the largest sauropod from Australia, recovered from a locality estimated 270-300 meters from the Winton Formation's base. Based on osteological remains and limb sizes, *Australotitan* compares in size titanosaur from South America. The taxon was differentiated based on 3D surface scans and comparisons to *Diamantinasaurus*, *Wintonotitan* and *Savannasaurus*.

The authors also criticized sauropod studies in the naming paper, stating specimens are difficult to compare. To overcome this, they used 3D cybertypes and colour reference schemes.

## Classification

Australotitan is a titanosaur, placed within a clade containing *Diamantinasaurus* 11/14 times. Depending on the dataset, the Winton sauropods *Wintonotitan* and *Savannasaurus* (sometimes with *Sarmientosaurus*, *Baotianmansaurus*, Dongyangosaurus, *Erketu* and *Pitekunsaurus*). This means *Australotitan* is a diamantinasaurian.

## Notable Specimens

* EMF 102 "Cooper": A partial skeleton discovered from the Winton Formation in 2005. It includes two humeri, a pelvis and a left radius.
* "George": An additional specimen discovered in 2006; a rib and left femur.

## References

1. ↑ https://peerj.com/articles/11317/
2. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2021/06/08/1003975808/australia-biggest-dinosaur-titanosaur-cooper-discovery-outback
3. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2021/06/08/1003975808/australia-biggest-dinosaur-titanosaur-cooper-discovery-outback
4. ↑ http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/australotitan-cooperensis-09741.html
5. ↑ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/australotitan-cooperensis-dinosaur-australia-discovered/
6. ↑ https://twitter.com/AnkylosaurNerd/status/1267389587015364608
7. ↑ https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Find+out+about/Dinosaurs+and+Ancient+Life+of+Queensland/Dinosaurs/Eromanga+giants/Cooper+George
Americanicus

A skull from the Lagoa Santa site.

### Species

*Homo-proscopinus (Americanicus) lagoensis**Homo neanderthalensis (Americanicus) lagoensis*

### Diet

Omnivorous

Americanicus is a dubious subgenus of hominid that lived in South America during the Early Holocene.

## History

This name was coined by Frassetto (1948) and referred to *Homo-proscopinus* to refer to Paleoamericans. However, this model of human evolution is abandoned. In the first model *Homo-proscopinus*, has 1 species, and 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.

## Descriptions

The subgenus is based on remains from Lagoa Santa, where over 300 remains have been exhumed

## References

* http://patagoniamonsters.blogspot.com/2019/09/lagoa-santa-sites-and-remains-old-and.html
* https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/evan.21587
* https://www.jstor.org/stable/23645611
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzia\_Woman
* https://www.persee.fr/doc/bmsap\_0037-8984\_1948\_num\_9\_1\_2828
* https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45926733
Australianus

Wajak 1, a specimen assigned to Homo-aproscopinus (Australianus) wadjakensis. This reconstruction is from 1980 by Chris Stringer and Bob Parsons.

## Statistics

### Species

*Homo-aproscopinus (Australianus) wadjakensis**Homo sapiens (Australianus) wadjakensis*

### Diet

Omnivorous

*Australianus* is a dubious subgenus of hominid that lived in Java during the Late Pleistocene.

## History

This name was coined by Frassetto (1948) and referred to *Homo-aproscopinus*, to refer to Javan 'basal' *Homo sapiens*. However, this model of human evolution is abandoned. In the first model *Homo-aproscopinus* has 1 species, and 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 former has 1 subspecies.

## Description

Known as the Wajak or Wadjak Man, *Homo wadjakensis* or *Homo-aproscopinus (Australianus) wadjakensis*, is represented by 2 crania from Wajak, Tulungagung Regency, East Java, Indonesia in 1888/90. However, it is now recognized as an early derived human. In the 1990s, a study placed the crania as 12,000-5000 years old, but a 2013 study claims they are 28,000-37,000 years old. Their morphology has been described as similar to southern and southwestern Asian "ancestors", intermediate between the Solo Man and south/southwestern Asians and having possible Asian, Polynesian, and the American admixture. However, these are likely incorrect, since they are based on outdated racial concepts and terminology. It was discovered by Eugène Dubois and published long after *Pithecanthropus* 1.

## References

* https://www.persee.fr/doc/bmsap\_0037-8984\_1948\_num\_9\_1\_2828
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wajak\_crania
* https://twitter.com/ChrisStringer65/status/1525024081850122240/photo/1
Austrosaurus

Credit: CisioPurple on DeviantArt.

*Austrosaurus* is an extinct genus of possible somphospondyl titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur that lived in Australia during the Early Cretaceous.

## History

QM F2361, three blocks of badly weathered vertebrae and rib fragments with 5 large blocks containing at least 10 smaller ones, is the holotype. It was discoered by Mr. H.B. Wade in Clutha Station, near Maxwelton, north Queensland, 1932; alerting station manager H. Mackillop, who showed his brother, who further sent them to the Queensland Museum. Heber Longman (1933) named *A. mckilllopi*. Historically, early sauropod taxa—including *Austrosaurus*—were believed to have needed to stand in water or live by the water to relieve the legs from bearing the full body weight. However, this is now outdated and it is now realized that sauropods were capable of supporting their weight on terrestrial land.

## Classification

Initially it was placed in Cetiosauridae. Hocknull (2009) described *Wintonotition* from material that was previously subsumed into this taxon by Coombs and Molnar (1981), suggesting that they only differ slightly and that *Wintonotitan* should be a nomen dubium. Poropat et al. (2017) report more material from the type locality of *Austrosaurus*. finding it to be a valid titanosauriform that may be tentatively placed in Somphospondyli.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrosaurus
Armbruster's wolf

## Canis armbrusteri

Armbruster's wolf (*Canis armbrusteri*) is an extinct species of canid that lived in North America from the Middle to the Late Pleistocene.

## Description

James W. Gidley (1913) named *C. armbrusteri* from Cumberland Bone Cave remains of an Irvingtonian terrestria horizon. It lived throughout the United States. *Canis edwardii* may have diverged into *C. armbrusteri*. However, R.A. Martin disagrees, believing it to be synonymous with *C. lupus*. Ronald M. Nowak counters, stating it was unrelated to the latter, but related to *Canis priscolatrans*, evolving into *Aenocyon dirus*. Richard H. Tedford proposes *Canis nehringi* has dental and cranial morphology seen in hypercarnivores, suggesting it was a common ancestor to the latter two and *Aenocyon*. However, it and *C. lupus* have also been proposed to be an ancestor of *Canis chihliensis* before migrating into North America. It was larger than any reported *Canis* at this time. X. Wang, R. H. Tedford and R. M. Nowak proposed the dire wolf is a descendant of *C. armbrusteri*; Nowak states that specimens from Cumberland Cave indicate a diverging point. They share several synapomorphies, where they suggested the dire wolf originates in the Late Irvingtonian in the open terrain midcontinent, later dispersing eastward and displacing *C. armbrusteri*. However, a 2021 study finds the dire wolf belongs to the genus *Aenocyon*, representing an ancient lineage; therefore, previous conclusions are likely incorrect.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armbruster%27s\_wolf
* https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/legendary-dire-wolf-may-not-have-been-wolf-all
Brachiosaurus

Credit: Charles Nye.

*Brachiosaurus* is an extinct genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

*Brachiosaurus* is one of the most well known sauropods. It was named after the extensive length of the forearms compared to its back legs. *Brachiosaurus*' neck had many vertebrae and was supported by many stiff neck muscles. The length of the neck was used for foraging in high trees. Since *Brachiosaurus*' head was so far off of the ground, the heart and blood vessels in the body of *Brachiosaurus* had to pump hard and fast to get blood and air through the body.

*Brachiosaurus* had a stubby body, with four pillar-like legs, a long and thick tail, and a long erect neck. *Brachiosaurus* had large nostrils and air sacks, increasing their smelling abilities, possibly being able to make loud sounds, and breathing in large amounts of air. It is impossible to know where *Brachiosaurus*' nostrils may have been located, unless a mummified head were to be found. Some hypothesize that the bony crest on their heads my have been a slot where trunks, or proboscises; however, this is unlikely. Since *Brachiosaurus* and others had smaller brains, unlike elephant brains, being much larger to control the musculature in their trunks. Genera like *Giraffatitan* were much larger, which may have lead to larger brain sizes, so fleshy trunks on sauropods like *Brachiosaurus* can not be fully excluded as a theory.

*Brachiosaurus* sported massive air sacs, needing to be able to supply its massive body with oxygenated blood. *Brachiosaurus* and other sauropods like it had a very high blood pressure, and a strong heart, due to how high their brain is off the ground, needing to pump or deliver blood to high places at a steep angle.

## Paleoecology

1/4
*Brachiosaurus* lived in the Morrison Formation during the Late Jurassic, an environment that had distinct wet and dry seasons. *Brachiosaurus* lived with many other sauropods, and diverse predators such as *Allosaurus*, *Ceratosaurus*, *Torvosaurus* and the doubted *Saurophaganax*. Out of all the sauropods in the Morrison, *Brachiosaurus* tended to be less common than other sauropods like the relatively common *Diplodocus* and *Apatosaurus*. *Brachiosaurus* lumbered through the plains, picking branches off of high canopy tops with their long necks.

## Synonyms

### Species Synonymy

* *B. brancai*?
* *B. fraasi*?
* *B. atalaiensis*?
* *B. nougaredi*?

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachiosaurus
* https://web.archive.org/web/20150806224719/https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/no-trunks-for-sauropods-2012/
Arctotherium

Arctotherium is an extinct genus of Short-Faced Bears.

## Range

They are known from many South American countries.

## Species

* Arctotherium Angustidens (1 MYA-10,000 BC) (Argentina) (South American Short-Faced Bear)
* Arctotherium Bonariense (500,000-11,600 BC) (Peru) (Peruvian Short-Faced Bear)
* Arctotherium Brasiliensis (126,000-12,800 BC) (Brazil) (Cerean Short-Faced Bear or Brazilian Bear)
* Arctotherium Enectum (700,000-71,000 BC)? (Chile) (Chilean Short-Faced Bear)
* Arctotherium Latidens (1.2 MYA-130,000 BC) (Argentina) (Argentine Short-Faced Bear)
* Arctotherium Pamparum (347,000-12,000 BC) (Argentina, Brazil, Chile) (Southern Short-Faced Bear)
* Arctotherium Tarijense (126,000-11,700 BC) (Argentina) (Patagonian Short-Faced Bear)
* Arctotherium Wingei (129,000-11,000 BC) (Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela) (Winge's Short-Faced Bear)
Bonitasaura

Credit: CisioPurple on DeviantArt.

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

## Description

*Bonitasaura* is characterized by its unusual skull, which has some similarities to diplodocids. The lower jaw possesses a sharp ridge, supporting a beak-like keratinous sheath. This, and a similar structure which probably existed on the upper jaw, worked like a guillotine, raking and reducing vegetation with the help of many peg-like teeth. *Bonitasaura*'s neck was rather short and the projections on its dorsal vertebrae were robust. This indicated that the neck was highly muscular, and was used in vigorous exertions during feeding. *Bonitasaura* represents convergent evolution with diplodocids, with a low and long skull lacking nasal arches, a squared mandible, reversed limb proportions, a whip-like tail and comb-like teeth. However, Bonitasaura was a eutitanosaur. This is contrary to the beliefs of McIntosh (1990), Jacobs et al. (1993) and Upchurch (1999), who suggested *Antarctosaurus* was a chimeric creation between a titanosaur upper cranium and a diplodocoid mandible.

## Classification

*Bonitasaura* was first considered a nemegtosaurid in the description paper, but cladistic analysis placed it as a eutitanosaur.

## References

* Apesteguía, S. 2004. Bonitasaura salgadoi gen. et sp. nov.: a beaked sauropod from the Late Cretaceous of Patagonia. Naturwissenschaften 91. 493–497. Accessed 2019-03-28.
* Larramendi, A; Molina-Pérez, R; 2020 "*Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: The Sauropods*." *Natural History Museum*.
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonitasaura
Bihariosaurus

Credit: Jack Wood.

Bihariosaurus is a naked and dubious genus of iguanodont ornithopod dinosaur that lived in Romania during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

Bihariosaurus was named but not described by Marinescu (1989). It was similar to *Camptosaurus*, but the original paper failed to give a credible description and/or provide illustrations that clearly distinguish it. Bihariosaurus is known from Bauxite (after it is named) of Cornet, Romania.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_informally\_named\_dinosaurs
Brontopodus

*Brontopodus* is an extinct ichnogenus that lived in the Morrison Formation in the Late Jurassic.

## Description

*Brontopodus* was 10 feet tall at the hip and was 30-50 feet long. This animal may have been another sauropod that lived in the Morrison, or a new undiscovered genus. The digits resemble that of a diplodocid dinosaur, with four toes when others only have three or fewer. This leaves *Dyslocosaurus* as the only animal that could have made the trackways. In 2007, a *B.* sp. pes imprint was discovered and demonstrates the presence of massive titanosaurs in the Nemegt Formation. Nicknamed the "Mongolian Titan"[*citation needed*], it suggests an acetabular height of 3-3.5 meters. Tracks found in a restaurant courtyard from Leshan City, China were described in 2023 as a *Brontopodus*-like taxon from the Early Cretaceous of the Jiaguan Formation.

## Species

* *B. birdi*
* *B. changlingensis*
* *B. oncalensis*
* *B. pentadactylus*

## Notable Specimens

* Mill Canyon: A manus pes set from Mill Canyon, Cedar Mountain Formation was described in 2022. The pollex is preserved as well developed. In 2013, a manus print was found and Lockley et al. (2014) found a single manus from the western sector, later found to be a shallow pes imprint. This rules out previous theories stating that the tracks were made while swimming. They were identified as *Brontopodus*. In 2022, 20-30% of the Mill Canyon trackways were completely destroyed by unknowing contractors sent by Utah's Bureau of Land Management driving a backhoe over the fossil area. They were sent to repair a loosely damaged boardwalk (which was built so that visitors could safely observe the site), piling the structure on more trackways. The damaged material was completely crushed under the weight of the equipment, making them worthless for study. The Bureau has decided to continue work at the site.

## References

1. ↑ https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=67216
2. ↑ http://trieboldpaleontology.com/brontopodus.html
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brontopodus
4. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031018217306892
5. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667123000642?dgcid=author
6. ↑ https://twitter.com/BrianEngh\_Art/status/1487940206976249856
7. ↑ https://twitter.com/JeremyBRoberts/status/1488339469216333824
8. ↑ https://twitter.com/JeremyBRoberts/status/1489642735447384065
Angusteryon

*Augusteryon* is an extinct genus of polychelid that lived in Switzerland during the Early Jurassic.

## Description

*Augusteryon* sports an uncharacteristically slender body, showing how diverse polychelids were before modern genera descended into the deep sea. *Augusteryon* is lobster-like, but is only distantly related.

## References

* http://dinotoyblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=8705.0
* https://twitter.com/AudoDenis/status/1266467728992469003
Brisbane River cod

## Maccullochella sp.

Credit: Queensland Museum, WhistlingKite24 (Zoochat).

The Brisbane River cod is an extinct subspecies of temperate perch that lived in the Brisbane River system, Australia and went extinct during the 1930s.

## Description

The Brisbane River cod appears to be a subspecies of *Maccullocella ikei* or *Maccullochella mariensis*; the prevailing theory is that the Brisbane River cod is an in-between of the two species. The Brisbane River cod is carnivorous, and is adorned with seven fins on its body. It is known only from one juvenile museum specimen collected ~100 years ago. It has not been formally described.

## Paleoecology

The Brisbane River cod lived in the Brisbane River, Queensland, Australia. Since its extinction, the rivers have been restocked with Mary River cod, posing a similar ecological niche the Brisbane River cod once filled. The Brisbane River cod were predators, preying on small fish.

### Extinction

During the 1930s, the fish was put through hard circumstances, which ultimately caused the extinction of the subspecies. The Brisbane River cod was overfished, had its habitat destroyed, and was affected by siltation. The ash of nearby bushfires polluted the waters, and made them un-inhabitable to a certain degree.

## References

1. ↑ Museum plaque
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane\_River\_cod
Branta hylobadistes

Credit: Skye McDavid.

*Branta hylobadistes*, also called the nēnē-nui or wood-walking goose, is an extinct species of goose that lived in Hawaii during the Holocene.

## Classification

The nēnē-nui, alonside the extant nēnē (*Branta sandvicensis*) and *Branta rhuax,* evolved from a population of Canada Geese (*Branta canadensis*) that arrived in Hawaii in the early Holocene. *Branta canadensis* does fly and is capable of long-distance migration, while *Branta sandvicensis* can fly but only for short distances and does not migrate. It is believed that *Branta* *hylobadites* had greatly reduced flight capabilities and was in the process of becoming flightless, as indicated by greatly reduced wing bones.

## Paleobiology

### Extinction

The exact mechanism of the nēnē-nui's extinction is unknown, but it happened soon after the arrival of humans on the islands. It is presumed that humans caused the extinction.

### Distribution

Definitive nēnē-nui fossils are only found on the island of Maui. Similar fossil remains are found on Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai. These were assigned to *Branta* aff. *hylobadistes*. These may represent the same species or one or several closely related species.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C4%93n%C4%93-nui
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 James, Helen F. & Olson, Storrs L. (1991): Descriptions of thirty-two new species of birds from the Hawaiian Islands: Part I. Non-passeriformes. *AOU Ornithological Monographs* 45: 42–47.
Arctodus simus

Arctodus Simus, also known as the Giant Short-Faced Bear, was an extinct species of bear that was the largest mammalian land predator to ever exist. It lived in North America from about 2 MYA-8,000 years ago. It was the last of the Pleistocene megafauna.

## Statistics

### Location

North America (possibly central and south america)

## Range

It lived in most states of the United States except for Hawaii, with a subspecies in Alaska and Canada and the nominate subspecies in the Southwestern United States and Mexico. It may have lived in Central America and possibly northern South America.

## Diet

It would've eaten animals such as bison, horses, carcasses, young or dying mammoths, ground sloths, and other animals. It may have cannibalized bear cubs, which is a behavior observed in modern bears except possibly asian species (not including asian brown bear subspecies).

## Description

Arctodus Simus was 6 feet (2 meters) tall on all four legs and could run faster than a horse. It weighed over 4,000 pounds (2 tons) and could take on just about any animal it wanted, even packs of humans. On its hind legs, it was twelve feet tall (4 meters), which rivaled the size of dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus. It probably looked somewhat like Tremarctos Ornatus or Ursus Arctos. It probably had a bite force that exceeded 3,000 PSI.

## Subspecies

* Arctodus Simus Simus - North American Short-Faced Bear
* Arctodus Simus Yukonensis - Northern Short-Faced Bear
Archaeoportunus

*Archaeoportunus* is an extinct genus of craabs that lived in Spain during the Early Eocene.

## Description

*Archaeoportunus* is found in marly strata of the Upper Roda Formation, Ypresian-aged Huesca, Aragón and Catalonia. It has clear characters, mainly in the chelipeds and dorsal carapace, which allowed Pedro Artal, Àlex Ossó and José Luis Domínguez (2021) to assign it to Portunoidea and a close relation to Portunidae in their naming paper. However, strongly-marked dorsal ridges and a notably-narrow sternum allowed them to also assign a new genus and species; *Archaeoportunus isabenensis*, and a new family; Archaeoportunidae. The fairly narrow sternum narrows at the posterior, the sternites 1 throuh 4 are downturned with strong swellings and the adapted sternum, pleon and pereiopods shows how basal *Archaeoportunus* is within Portunoidea. The 2021 paper corrects nomenclatural issues from Artal et al. (2013) to fit the guidelines set by the International Commission of Nomenclature in 2012.

## References

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353822342\_New\_genus\_and\_new\_species\_of\_portunoid\_crab\_Archaeoportunus\_isabenensis\_from\_the\_Lower\_Eocene\_of\_Huesca\_Aragon\_and\_Lleida\_Catalonia\_Nou\_genere\_i\_nova\_nova\_especie\_de\_cranc\_portunoid\_Archaeoportunus\_is
Big Boy

Credit: Benjamin Paysnoe.

Big boy a genus of tyrannosauroid that lived in Arizona during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

"Big Boy" is a nickname coined by the Arizona Museum of Natural History for several fragmented bones and teeth discovered in Maastrichtian Arizona. This species was 9 meters tall and 27 feet long, which would have made it the largest in the environment and an apex predator. A life-sized model was commissioned by the museum and created by Benjamin Paysnoe.

## Gallery

**Credit: Benjamin Paysnoe.****Credit: Benjamin Paysnoe.****Credit: Benjamin Paysnoe.****Credit: Benjamin Paysnoe.****Credit: Benjamin Paysnoe.****Credit: Benjamin Paysnoe.**
## References

* https://twitter.com/benjiopteryx/status/1482048773056462849/photo/1
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late\_Cretaceous
* https://www.paysnoepaleoart.com/gallery/67f45e26-9b6f-4358-92d8-01f3c4091410-a2tbn-zxb7w
Aramornis

*Aramornis* is an extinct genus of aramid bird that lived in Nebraska during the Miocene.

## History

The holotype of *Aramornis* was discovered in 1923 by an American Museum of Natural History expedition led by Albert Thomson at Snake Creek Quarry in Northwestern Nebraska. Here, they recovered AMNH 6292, the lower end of the left tibiotarsus, the only known specimen from this genus. This site, dated to the Miocene epoch, had yielded other fossils of birds. In 1926, Alexander Wetmore established the new genus *Aramornis*. The genus name is a reference to its modern relative, *Aramus* (which it was closely related), with the Greek suffix "ornis" meaning bird.

## Paleoecology

The modern limpkin, the closest living relative of *Aramornis*, is a wading bird that feeds almost exclusively on aquatic snails. It is presumed that *Aramornis* would have had a similar ecology.

## References

1. ↑ https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/bitstream/handle/2246/3188/N0211.pdf;jsessionid=551E2F4CEF3118CD388807ED19D9B0E4?sequence=1
2. ↑ https://www.mindat.org/taxon-4966555.html
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limpkin
Atlanthropus

*Atlanthropus* is a dubious genus of hominid that lived in Algeria during the Pleistocene.

## History

Fossils of this primate are known from Ternifine (or Tighenif), an archaeological site 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Mascara, Algeria. This site was first quarried in the 19th century after several fossil animal bones and artifacts were recovered. From 1954-55, excavations were carried-out because the importance of the site was determined after several fossils (including human mandibles) were found. However, they stopped because of flooding but lowering of the water table allowed the strata to be examined. These include hard grayish clay and small lake/swamp sands. The ecology ~700,000 years ago was likely arid and rather treeless.

The first mandible was found in 1954, but both rami were damaged. This jaw is heavy, but the front profile is smooth and receding, and no evidence of a chin is present. The teeth are very large compared to modern counterparts. Another specimen is the left half of mandible and another specimen, the third, is near intact. The third is the largest, with ridges at the body and base of the jaw indicating this individual was male. The smaller mandible was likely female. Additionally, a parietal and isolated teeth were recovered.

These were compared with archaic humans and the Peking Man. They found the Ternifine hominins had enough differences to erect a new genus and species - *Atlanthropus mauritanicus*. However, Chinese, Algerian and Javan remains were all suggested to be a single species, *Homo erectus*. These hominins used Archeulean stone tools, with some other *Homo erectus* are known to have used similar Archeulean and Oldowan tools. Today, the Ternifine hominins are known as *Homo erectus* and *Atlanthropus* has fallen by the wayside.

## References

* https://www.britannica.com/place/Ternifine
* https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo\_mauritanicus
* https://twitter.com/johnhawks/status/1408463843303596038
Anser thraceiensis

*Anser thraceiensis* (Thracian goose) is an extinct species of goose that lived in Bulgaria during the Miocene/Pliocene boundary.

## Description

It was described in 1984 from 11 fragments from an adult individual, including a proximal and distal humerus, coracoid fragment, proximal ulna, a distal ulna fragment, proximal radius, cuneiform and scapula, from Trojanovo, Bulgaria. It is slightly larger than the greylag goose. The ulnar condyle is rounded near to the shoulder and longer than the medio-lateral axis. The internal ligament is also rounded, the external anconeus sulcus on the caudal side is quite wide, the coracoid is larger than other *Anser*, the scapular fossa has a diameter that is equal to the horizontal and vertical dimensions, and the phalanx I surface is wide. The describers suggest that these traits verify assignment to *Anser*. The National Museum of Natural History, Sofia notes that 17 specimens of this taxon are presently held in their collections, catalogued as NMNHS 1407-1420, 1622-1625 and 1650-1652.

## References

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anser\_(bird)
2. ↑ https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=429519
3. ↑ Nikolay I. Burchak-Abramovich & Ivan M. Nikolov (1984). "Iskopayemmyye ptitsy *Phalacrocorax serdicensis* sp. n. i *Anser thraceiensis* sp. n. iz Bolgarii. [The fossil birds *Phalacrocorax serdicensis* sp. n. and *Anser thraceiensis* sp. n. from Bulgaria.] [in Russian, with English summ.]". *Paleontologiya, Stratigrafiya I Litologiya*. **19**: 23–34.
4. ↑ https://repository.naturalis.nl/pub/210794/
5. ↑ http://e-ecodb.bas.bg/zb/sci/164\_boev\_2002\_neogene\_avifauna\_bg\_vp.pdf
Aragonictis

Credit: Flavia Strani.

*Aragonictis* is an genus of mustelid that lived in Spain during the Middle Miocene.

## Description

A low p2-3, loss of the p4 accessory cuspid with the main central cuspid, a sharp, beveled and lingually open m1 talonid and reduction of the M1 lingual platform ally *Aragonictis* with the range of hypercarnivory seen in *Circamustela*. The occurrence of this genus indicates that the Latest Middle Miocene inner Iberia was more densely forested. At least Miocene mustelid cladogenesis events were present: MN7 and 8, and M9 with *Circamustela* and *Aragonictis*. It is known from a single jaw.

## References

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2021.2005615
Anjiaspis

Qingshuiaspis (left) and Anjiaspis (right). Credit: Shan, Gai, Lin, Chen, Zhu & Zhao.

## Statistics

### Diet

Carnivorous

*Anjiaspis* is an extinct genus of Eugaleaspiformes fish that lived in China during the Early Silurian.

## Description

*Anjiaspis* clusters with *Shuyu*, *Meishanaspis* and *Jiangxialepis*, with it being in a sister family (Shuyuidae), sister to all Eugaleaspiformes, representing the oldest and most primitive occurrences of this taxon. It was discovered from the marine Lower Red Beds of the Silurian, South China. This suggests a divergence time no later than the Early Telychian.

## References

* https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1367912022001109?via%3Dihub
Ban Krok Duean Ha Sinamiid

A centrum, PRCMR308.

The Ban Krok Duean Ha Sinamiid, cf. *Siamamia*, is an unnamed genus of Sinamiid ray-finned fish that lived in Thailand during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

The taxon is known from, a sub-complete, articulated skeleton. The species is from a similar geography to *Siamamia naga*, but from younger rocks and is very distinct from that taxon, leading the authors to believe the taxon represents a new species or genus.

## References

https://fr.pensoft.net/article/83081/element/2/13//
Amagimi Dam Therizinosaurid

The Amagimi Dam Therizinosaurid is an unnamed genus of Therizinosaur that lived in Japan during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

The specimen, (?MDM coll.) is known from a "parasphenoid, basisphenoid, basioccipital, exoccipital, supraoccipital, three teeth, incomplete humerus, pubis, and a partial femur". The basisphenoid is swollen and pnumaticized, the basipterygoid is reduced, The n. hypoglossus has 3 exits. The taxon does not posses an exoccipital depression, which is unlike *Erlikosaurus*, the pubic shaft is flattened mediolaterally and the pubic boot projects cranially and caudally, and a fused obturator process and cranial and caudal processes are similar to *Enigmosaurus*. It is known from the Cenomanian-Turonian.

## References

* https://theropoddatabase.com/Therizinosauroidea.htm#Therizinosauria
Anser arizonae

Credit: Skye McDavid.

*Anser arizonae* is an extinct species of goose in the genus *Anser* that lived in Arizona during the late Miocene.

## Description

*Anser arenosus* is known from several partial skeletons collected at the Bird Bone Quarry, part of the Big Sandy Formation, in Mojave County, Arizona. The fossils are deposited in the American Museum of Natural History in New York, NY.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.arlis.org/docs/vol1/21565227.pdf
Balistes lerichei

*Balistes lerichei* is an extinct species of triggerfish that lived in Spain during the Miocene.

## Description

Remains are known from Pou de l’Olm; referred specimens include the fragmented crowns MNIB 371, 373, 374, 376, 371(3), 379, 383, 386, 387, 410a, 415, 432 and 433. It was described from Spanish material, which was once considered possibly synonymous with *Balistes crassidens* before reappraisal.

## References

* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=357267
* https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331354850\_First\_occurrence\_of\_fossil\_Balistes\_Tetradontiformes\_Balistidae\_from\_the\_Miocene\_of\_Cuba\_with\_the\_description\_of\_a\_new\_species\_and\_a\_revision\_of\_fossil\_Balistes
Anser pressus

*Anser pressus,* the dwarf snow goose, is an extinct species of goose in the genus *Anser* that lived in Idaho during the late Pliocene.

## History

The species *Chen pressa* was named by Brodkorb in 1964 based on fossils from the Hagerman Fossil Beds in Idaho. The genus *Chen* is now widely considered a synonym of *Anser*, so *Chen pressa* was reclassified as *Anser pressus*, with the specific epithet changing gender to agree with the genus name.

## Description

USNM 12823, a left femur, is the type. It was discovered from Hagerman west 1 of the Hagerman Formation, Idaho.

## References

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anser\_(bird)
2. ↑ https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=336381
African wild dog

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

## Statistics

### Species

*L. pictus*
†*L. sekowei*
†*L. magnus*
†*L. falconeri* (proposed)
†*L. lycaonoides* (proposed)

### Diet

Carnivorous

*Lycoan*, sometimes called African wild dogs, is a genus of canid that lives in Africa from the Pliocene to the modern day.

## Description

African wild dogs are smaller than wolves, and are generally colored black, brown and beige, with an irregular spotted pattern. Lycaon are hypercarnivorous, having a diet of about 70% raw meat. African wild dogs have large ears, large bushy tails, and a long body.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycaon\_(genus)
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycaon\_sekowei
* https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.crpv.2003.06.002
* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=41219
* https://www.gbif.org/species/5219317
Balaenoptera

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

## Statistics

### Diet

Planktivorous

*Balaenoptera* is a genus of rorquals that have lived worldwide since the Neogene.

## Description

*Balaenoptera* first appear in the fossil record 13.65 million years ago. The type, *B. omurai* was described in 2003, with many species named afterwards .

## Species

* *B. acutorostrata* (common minke whale)
	+ *B. a. acutorostrata* (North Atlantic minke whale)
	+ *B. a. scammoni* (North Pacific minke whale)
* *B. bonaerensis* (Antarctic minke whale)
* *B. borealis* (sei whale)
	+ *B. b. borealis* (Northern sei whale)
	+ *B. b. schlegelli* (Southern sei whale)
* *B. edeni* (Bryde's whale)
	+ *B. brydei*/*e. brydei* (offshore Bryde's whale)
	+ *B. e. edeni* (Eden's whale)
* *B. musculus* (blue whale)
	+ *B. m. musculus* (Northern blue whale)
	+ *B. m. intermedia* (Antarctic blue whale)
	+ *B. m. indica* (Northern Indian Ocean blue whale)
	+ *B. m. brevicauda* (pygmy blue whale)
* *B. omurai* (Omura's whale)
* *B. physalus* (fin whale)
	+ *B. p. patachonica* (pygmy fin whale)
	+ *B. p. physalus* (North Atlantic fin whale)
	+ *B. p. quoyi* (Southern fin whale)
	+ *B. p. velifera* (North Pacific fin whale
* *B. ricei*
* †*B. bertae*
* †*B. cephalus*
* †*B. clocloughi*
* †*"B." cortesii*?
* †*B. davidsonii*
* †*"B." portisi*? (=*"B." floridana*)
* †*"B." ryani*?
* †*B. siberi*?
* †*B. sursiplana*
* †*B. taiwanica*
* †*B. borealina* (nomen dubium)
* †*B. definata* (nomen dubium)
* †*B. emarginata* (nomen dubium)
* †*B. gibbosa* (nomen dubium)
* †*B. minutis* (nomen dubium)
* †*B. rostratella* (nomen dubium)
* †*B. sibbaldina* (nomen dubium)
* †*B. similis*

## References

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balaenoptera
2. ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12776
Acanthopleurella

Credit: Apokryltaros.

*Acanthopleurella* is an extinct genus of tiny trilobite that lived in England during the Ordovcian.

## Description

*Acanthopleurella stipulae* is the smallest known trilobite, being 1 millimeter long, the size of a single fleck of pepper.

## References

* https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acanthopleurella\_grindrodi.JPG
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilobite#Morphology
Arimidelphis

Credit: Jaime Bran.

*Arimidelphis* is an extinct genus of dolphin that lived in Italy during the Pliocene.

## References

* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=70032
* https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244994707\_Arimidelphis\_sorbinii\_a\_new\_small\_killer\_whale-like\_dolphin\_from\_the\_Pliocene\_of\_Marecchia\_river\_Central\_Eastern\_Italy\_and\_a\_phylogenetic\_analysis\_of\_the\_Orcininae\_Cetacea\_Odontoceti
Archaeopteris

*Archaeopteris* is an extinct tree-like fern that lived from the Late Devonian to the Early Carboniferous worldwide.

## Classification

*Archaeopteris* is closer related to a fern than a tree.

## Species

* *A. fissilis*
* *A. halliana*
* *A. hibernica*
* *A. macilenta*
* *A. obtusa*

## Gallery

*A.* cf. *obtusa* at the Royal Ontario Museum.
**Credit: Clumsystiggy on DeviantArt.***A.* cf. *A. obtusa* (4) and *A. halliana* from the Royal Ontario Museum.
**Credit: Clumsystiggy on DeviantArt.**
## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteris
Bayanshiree Tyrannosauroid

Assorted material from IGM 100/51 (left group) and IGM 100/50 (right group), as the specimens were catalogued in 1977.

## Statistics

### Diet

Carnivorous

The Bayanshiree Tyrannosauroid is an unnamed genus of Tyrannosaur that lived in Mongolia during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

Two individuals of this taxon are known, IGM 100/50 and IGM 100/51. IGM 100/50 is known from a nasal and partial maxilla, 3 caudal, 17 dorsal vertebrae, a scapulocoracoid, a partial humerus, and manual ungual I. IGM 100/51 is known from a premaxilla, a partial maxilla, a post orbital, a jugal, a quadratojugal, a dentary, a femur, a partial tibia, and metatarsals. It is morphologcally similar to *Alectrosaurus olsoni*, but differs in the metatarsal III being wider and being pinched for half its length and large manual flexor tubercles. IGM 100/50 and IGM 100/51 are both juveniles.

## Phylogyny

In an unpublished study by Holtz (2001) it was recovered as the sister taxon to Alectrosaurus olsoni. This cladogram was modified from Loewen et al. (2013)

## References

* https://theropoddatabase.com/Tyrannosauroidea.html#Pantyrannosauria
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannosauroidea
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alectrosaurus
Archaeorhynchus

*Archaeorhynchus* is an extinct genus of avialan bird that lived in China during the Early Cretaceous period 125-120 million years ago.

## Description

*Archaeorhynchus* is a medium-sized avialan known from 3 specimens with slender maxillae and premaxillae, short nasals and discrete mandibular elements. The cranial bones of the holotype are slightly disarticulated due to transportation; all known specimens have a vertebral column but all are incomplete. However, all specimens combined can form a full vertebral column, with 9 or 10 cervicals, no dorsals and 9 or 10 caudals. The slender and curved vertebral ribs have robust and strong anchors, but do not attach to the breastbone. The pectoral girdle bears a robust, U-shaped wishbone, a slightly curving shoulder blade, a short and robust coracoid and a breastbone that is broad and deeply-notched. An unfused ilium a slender, curved pubis with a small pubic boot and strap-like ischium that is shorter than the pubis. The hind is shorter than the forelimb, with the latter having a straighter and shorter radius than the ulna. They also preserve the major and minor metacarpals and the fingers, having a phalangeal formula of 2-3-2, The hindlimbs have a femur that is robust and bowed, a tibia that is slightly longer than the femur and a slender fibula. 4 metatarsals (not preserving V) are preserved, with II-IV are unfused and III is the most elongate and widest. The others are equal in length. Feathers are seen in the holotype and the second of the other two, associated with the neck, wings and tail.

## Classification

Zhou and Zhang conducted phylogenetic analysis that placed *Archaeorhynchus* as closer to ornithurines based on the U-shaped wishbone, keel along the breastbone and a compressed and expanded first finger of the major manual digit. It, however, retains archaic features such as a mandible lacking a strong fork at the posterior and deep posterior notches on the sternum, The holotype suggests powerful powered flight  similar to modern birds.

## Paleobiology

### Diet

It is hypothesized *Archaeorhynchus* was herbivorous do to a alrge amount of gastroliths in the gut of all specimens. Such a high number indicates they are not a byproduct, and were purposefully swallowed. These would have help grinded down food while in the stomach since it was unable to chew due to being toothless.

### Ontogeny

A 2021 study on juveniles shows that it was likely capable of flying shortly after birth.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeorhynchus
Branta esmeralda

Credit: Skye McDavid.

*Branta esmeralda* is an extinct species of goose in the genus *Branta* that lived in Nevada during the Miocene.

## History

The holotype of *Branta esmeralda*, UCMP 29601, was discovered by V.L. Vanderhoof in 1928 at Fish Lake Valley, part of the Esmeralda Formation, in Esmeralda County, Nevada. It is deposited at the University of California Museum of Paleontology in Berkeley, California. The holotype is a single carpometacarpus, which was described by WH Burt in 1929.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://ucmpdb.berkeley.edu/cgi/ucmp\_query2?&spec\_id=V29601&one=T
AODF0890 ornithopod

Bones found inside Confractosuchus' stomach

The AODF0890 ornithopod is an unnamed genus of Dinosaur from the late Cretaceous of Australia.

## Description

The taxon is known from a juvenile specimen, comprising a femer, a tibia, the neural arch, caudal, sacral, and dorsal vertebrae, as well as unidentified elements found in the stomach contents of AODF0890, the holotype of *Confractosuchus*. These bones clearly show that *Confractosuchus* dismembered, chewed the taxon. according to White et. al. this probably represents a novel genus of ornithopod, but wasn't named. They also state that since no clear autopomorphies could be identified from the X-Ray they tentatively refer to it as a non-iguanodontian ornithopod similar to *Notohypsilophodon.*

## References

* Matt A. White, Phil R. Bell, Nicolás E. Campione, Gabriele Sansalone, Tom Brougham, Joseph J. Bevitt, Ralph E. Molnar, Alex G. Cook, Stephen Wroe, David A. Elliott, Abdominal contents reveal Cretaceous crocodyliforms ate dinosaurs, Gondwana Research, 2022, ISSN 1342-937X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2022.01.016. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1342937X22000338)
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khwEmCTVASg
Balaenoptera ryani

*"Balaenoptera" ryani* is an extinct species of baleen whale that lived in California during the Late Miocene.

## Description

The holotype skull, CASG 1733, was unearthed from the Californian Monterey Formation. When Zeigler et al. described *Parabaleanoptera*, *"B." ryani* was assigned cetotheriidae. However, a recent evaluation of fossil balaenopterids, the species is considered a separate genus of basal balaenopterid due to primitive and derived characteristics. Such characteristics can be found in rorquals and non-rorquals, a supraorbital process on the frontal, depressing abruptly below vertex, parietals that overlap the posteromedial corner of the supraorbital formation, of the frontal, sinuous and horizontally pointing squamosal cleft, lambdoidal crests that broadly overhang the temporal fossa, a petrosal with a triangular anterior process, a sharp triangular supraoccipital shield, a parietal that narrowly exposes on the vertex, with no overlap of the anterior wing on the parietal and ascending formation of the maxilla.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balaenoptera\_ryani
Anomoepus

Credit: CMIPalaeo on DeviantArt.

*Anomoepus* is an extinct ichnogenus of ornithiscian dinosaur that lived in North America and Europe during the Early Jurassic.

## Description

*Anomoepus* is known from footprints and matching scrape marks in the ground. The forefeet have five digits, and the hindfeet have three toes. Peculiar marks in the sediment shows that the animal must have rested. Scratch marks, made as if the creature quickly swiped its arms through the dirt, has been speculated to be some type of mating display. *Anomoepus* has toes on its hindlegs, rather than claws. Scientists think that the lack of clawed digits means the dinosaur was an ornithiscian, rather than a saurischian[*citation needed*].

Tracks from an *Anomoepus*-like trackmaker have been discovered in Australia. They appear alike in shape, only differing in size. The abundance of these tracks suggest that this trackmaker was larger than most *Anomoepus*, possibly a new ichnogenus. Tracks were described from the Stormberg Group in 2023.

## Species

* *A. culbertsonii*
* *A. fringilla*
* *A. gallinoides*
* *A. giganteus*
* *A. major*
* *A. minutus*
* *A. moabensis*
* *A. palmipes*
* *A. pienkovskii*
* *A. ranivorus*
* *A. scambus*
* *A. shingi*
* *A. tungchuanensis*
* *A. turda*
* *A. karaszevskii*?

## Synonyms

* *Corvipes*
* *Hopiichnus*?
* *Masititrisauropodiscus*

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomoepus
* https://www.deviantart.com/cmipalaeo/art/Anomoepus-Displaying-682134875
* https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/JF9DVBAZNNQZSGBYSWKB/full?target=10.1080/08912963.2020.1846033
* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=67049
* https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2023.2221306
Brushy Basin Ceratosaurian

F is DMNH 36284.

The Brushy Basin Ceratosaurian is an unnamed genus of Ceratosaurian dinosaur that lived in Colorado and possibly Wyoming during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

The taxon is known from DMNH 36284 (Proximal tibia), USNM 8415 (humerus) , and potentially USNM 8414 (Metatarsal III & IV). Turner and Peterson, 1999 report similar material from the Salt Wash member of Wyoming, but the material isn't figured or identified. The morphology of the proximal articular surface is is an intermediate wideness between *Limusaurus* and Albelisaurs. The flattened distal condyles are also more derived from *Limusaurus*. The internal tuberosity is well developed like more derived Ceratosaurs. The deltopectoral crest apex is placed more distally than Elaphrosaurines, but less so than Ceratosaurids and Albelisaurids.

## References

https://www.theropoddatabase.com/Ceratosauria.htm#Elaphrosaurinae
Amphibamus

*Amphibamus* is an extinct genus of amphibian salamander that lived in North America in the Middle Carboniferous.

## Description

*Amphibamus* has a small body and tail, with a large head and eyes. The eyes likely lacked a pupil, and sat on two peaks on the skull. *Amphibamus* had long limbs, with padded and webbed fingers to aid in swimming and climbing on surfaces.

*Amphibamus*, like most amphibians when it lived, had to lay their eggs in a body of water, as they had not yet evolved the hard shell covering to keep the eggs from drying out on land.

## Paleoecology

*Amphibamus* likely lived on riverbanks eating insects and laying its eggs in water.
Anser arenosus

*Anser arenosus* is an extinct species of goose in the genus *Anser* that lived in Arizona during the late Miocene.

## Description

*Anser arenosus* is known from a large quantity of fossil material collected at the Bird Bone Quarry, part of the Big Sandy Formation, in Mojave County, Arizona. The fossils are deposited in the American Museum of Natural History in New York, NY.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.arlis.org/docs/vol1/21565227.pdf
Angel wings

DIP-V-15100.

DIP-V-15100 and 15101, nicknamed angel wings or Rose, is an unnamed genus of enantiornithes that lived in Asia during the Cretaceous.

## Description

DIP-V-15100 is a single wing encased in Burmese amber, showing exceptional detail. It is ikely affiliated with DIP-V-15101, a single wing in amber.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enantiornithes#Dubious\_genera\_and\_notable\_unnamed\_specimens
* https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/jul/15/why-two-tiny-wings-preserved-in-amber-have-palaeontologists-in-a-flap-dinosaurs
Biconcavoposeidon

"Biconcavoposeidon" is a naked genus of brachiosaurid sauropod dinosaur that lived in Wyoming during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

A placeholder for AMNH-FARB 291 (5 consecutive posterior dorsal vertebrae), it was discovered in Bone Cabin quarry in 1898.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_informally\_named\_dinosaurs