recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Zalmoxes

Credit: Christopher DiPiazza.

*Zalmoxes* is an extinct genus and of rhabdodontid ornithopod dinosaur that lived in Romania during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Zalmoxes* is present in east Europe, once split into multiple species (*Mochlodon*) by Franz Nopsca (1899), and named by Nopsca in 1915. Norman, Weishampel, Csiki and Jianu (2003) corrected this taxonomy as *Z. robustus*. *Z. shqiperorum* is a largest species, with the rest of the genus showing considerable variation. It bears a beak and a triangular head. It is often interpreted as an insular dwarf. Ösi et al. find it is closer to the size of the rhabdodont ancestor. It may ahve been prey for *Hatzegopteryx*.

## References

* https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/zalmoxes.html
* https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23028518/
* http://prehistoricbeastoftheweek.blogspot.com/2017/05/zalmoxes-beast-of-week.html
* https://bioone.org/journals/Geodiversitas/volume-31/issue-3/g2009n3a3/Osteology-of-Zalmoxes-shqiperorum-Dinosauria-Ornithopoda-based-on-new-specimens/10.5252/g2009n3a3.short
* https://jhu.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/osteology-and-phylogeny-of-zalmoxes-n-g-an-unusual-euornithopod-d
* https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Osteology-of-Zalmoxes-shqiperorum-(Dinosauria%2C-on-Godefroit-Codrea/ffd79d28d317384ff8a301efdaab9cc390d651da
* https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248623465\_Osteology\_and\_phylogeny\_of\_Zalmoxes\_n\_g\_an\_unusual\_Euornithopod\_dinosaur\_from\_the\_latest\_Cretaceous\_of\_Romania
* https://archive.org/details/g.s.paul2016theprincetonfieldguidetodinosaurs/page/n258/mode/1up
Tyrannasorus

Credit: Ta-tea-two-te-to on DeviantArt.

*Tyrannasorus* is an extinct genus of scavenger scarab beetles that lived in the Dominican Republic during the Early/Middle Miocene.

## Etymology

The name *Tyrannasorus rex* is an obvious play on the theropod dinosaur *Tyrannosaurus rex*, but the describers cite *Hybosorus* (another scavenger scarab beetle) as the etymological source. The Latin "tyrannus" means "tyrannical" or "master", and the Latin "sorus" means "pile" or "hump". The name means "tyrannical hump", hump referring to the chunk of amber the beetle is known from.

## Description

Based on similarities to female *Apalonychus*, it was determined the holotype *Tyrannasorus* is a female. The resin she was found in was produced by *Hymenaea protera*, previously thought to be from the Eocene/Oligocene, but was later found to be from 15-20 million years ago (Early/Middle Miocene). The amber is probably from a mountain range north of the Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. The amber is too dark to observe the ventral regions of the body. The specimen was named by Brett C. Ratcliffe and Federico Carlos Ocampo in 2001.

Unlike most hybosorids from the West Indies with 10-segmented antennae, *Tyrannasorus* only has 9 segments. This genus is most like *Coilodes* and *Apalonychus*, sharing a convex almost spherical body and a reddish-brown colouration. *T. rex* has concave club-shaped antennal clubs and *Coilodes* has cup-shaped antennal clubs. In addition, *Coilodes* has a wider labrum and a sinuate pronotum. *Apalonychus* has a more elongate antennal club, subglose eyes easily visible from the dorsal view, a wider labrum and have a pronotum with a non-sinuate anterior margin. *Tyrannasorus*' six legs have a pair of prolegs, middle and posterior legs. The elytra have a smooth surface.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannasorus\_rex
Wattieza

*Wattieza* is an extinct genus of tree that lived in North America during the Middle Devonian.

## Description

*Wattieza* is a close relative of ferns and horsetails. In 2005, the crown was reconstructed alongside the then-unknown root and trunk (originally assigned *Eospermatopteris*) discovered in 1870. This was announced in 2007. Before, it was thought they represent distinct plant species. *Wattieza* is one of the earliest trees, resembling but unrelated to the fern tree; as-in it has fronds rather than leaves, reproducing with spores. François Stockmans (1968) named *W. givetiana* from Middle Devonian London-Brabant Massif fossil fronds. Chris Berry (2000) named *W. casasii* from Middle Devonian Campo Chico Formation green mudstones and shales fossil branches.
Tyrannopsylla

A,B, & C male. D female.

*Tyrannopsylla beipiaoensis* is a species of Siphonapteran that lived in China during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

The fossil (NIGP coll.) is known from an unclear number of slabs, at least 2. (9 specimens of fleas belonging to 2 genera). The condition of the flea's large size, females possessing setae and scattered ctenidia, 14- to 17-segmented flagella, and lack of stout, posteriorly directed setae make the taxon distinct from modern fleas, as well as *Tarwinia* and *Saurophthirus*. This taxon lacked wings and an ability to jump.

## References

Huang, D., Engel, M., Cai, C. *et al.* Diverse transitional giant fleas from the Mesozoic era of China. *Nature* **483,** 201–204 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10839

Huang, DiYing; Engel, Michael S.; Cai, ChenYang; Nel, André (2013-05-01). "Mesozoic giant fleas from northeastern China (Siphonaptera): Taxonomy and implications for palaeodiversity". Chinese Science Bulletin. 58 (14): 1682–1690. Bibcode:2013ChSBu..58.1682H. doi:10.1007/s11434-013-5769-3. ISSN 1861-9541.
XMDFEC V0010

XMDFEC V0010 is an extinct genus of probable baryonychine spinosaurid dinosaur that lived in the Henan Province, China during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

XMDFEC V0010 is a single large theropod tooth recovered from the middle Upper Cretaceous Henan Province. It bears a morphology very similar to baryonychinae spinosaurs. It is long, conical and has a sub-circular cross section and a slight recurve along the length. Many fine denticles are on the anterior and posterior carinae. It may represent the first Asian baryonychine, being the first of the Late Cretaceous. This may suggest they were more geographically and temporally distributed than previously thought. Based on gross morphology and assumed ecology of spinosaurids, they are rare in the fossil record, when compared to other theropods. This suggests that they may have been rare animals, which could be an effect of their extreme morphological specialization. No synapomorphies are present, so it may be another theropod.

## References

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271967379\_A\_probable\_Baryonychine\_Theropoda\_Spinosauridae\_tooth\_from\_the\_Upper\_Cretaceous\_of\_Henan\_Province\_China
Ursus arctos californicus

Taxidermy specimen. Credit: Vahe Martirosyan.

*Ursus arctos californicus*, the California Grizzly Bear or California Golden Bear, is an extinct subspecies of bear that lived in California until the early twentieth century.

## History

The last confirmed specimen was collected in 1922, with a possible sighting in 1924. It is the symbol of the State of California, and featured on its flag.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California\_grizzly\_bear
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subspecies\_of\_brown\_bear
Ursus arctos crowtheri

Credit: Joseph J. Ortega.

*Ursus arctos crowtheri*, known as the Atlas Bear or African Bear is an extinct subspecies of brown bear that lived in Africa until the 19th or 20th century.

## Description

The Atlas bear was the only native bear species to survive into modern times, as it once lived in the Atlas Mountains (for which it is named for) and neighbouring areas spanning from Morocco to Libya. It is now believed to wave went extinct. It was a brownish-black, with a reddish-orange underside and lacked the signature white mark on the muzzle. The fur reached as long as 4-5 inches (102-127 millimeters) long. The muzzle and claws were shorter than the American black bear and it fed on roots, acorns and nuts, which would have made it mostly herbivorous. However, most bears are omnivores so it may have been able to consume meat such as small mammals and scavenged carrion. Mitochondrial DNA in bones suggests a range from 100,000-800 years ago, with specimens forming two clades; Clade V was indistinguishable from Iberian Peninsula-dwelling brown bears and Clade VI being highly distinct from the latter and are closest related to polar bears and Alaskan brown bears or outside of the clade that contains all brown bear lineages. The Atlas bear does not appear to be closely related to Middle Eastern brown bears despite living near-to one-another, which suggests colonization of Africa to be of considerable antiquity.

## Paleoecology

They were probably ecologically similar to brown bears, living alongside the Barbary leopard and Barbary lion. Their extinction is at fault of the Roman Empire, which was expanding into North Africa and had intensely hunted and captured these bears alongside local animals. They used them for gladiator fights, which lasted for centuries and were pitted among lions, tigers and other animals. Gladiatorial animals were treated with cruelty and were starved to increase performance in the arena. They were also captured for venatio games, ad bestias execution and for sport. Atlas bears became extinct shortly after the invention of modern firearms and their induced overhunting. The last straw was pressure from zoo collectors, leaving populations unable to reproduce. In the late 19th century, the last recorded kill by hunters was documented in 1870 in the Tetouan Mountains. The IUCN credits their extinction to around the year 1890.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas\_bear
Timimus

*Timimus* is an extinct genus of theropod dinosaur that lived in Australia during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

*Timimus* lived about 113-103 million years ago. It was once thought to be an ornithomimosaur, but is now thought to be another kind of theropod, possibly a primitive tyrannosauroid. The type species is *Timimus hermani*.
Walliserops

Credit: Franz Anthony.

*Walliserops* is an extinct genus of trilobite that lived during the Early to Mid Devonian in Morocco.

## Description

*Walliserops* is unlike other trilobites, and had a large trident on the front of its body. Scientists theorize the claw was used for sexual contests, flipping other competing trilobites. Paleontologists think that females may not have had the apparatus. Others think that the device was used for protection, disguise or even a type of sensory organ. The energy to grow such a large apparatus may have been more then molting the exoskeleton, so the purpose of the structure was important. The trident curved up, and away from the seabed.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walliserops
* https://twitter.com/geocappiello/status/1277925458596827137
Woolly mammoth

This article was suggested to be merged with Mammoth. If you oppose this idea, it can be discussed here.

## Statistics

### Diet

Herbivorous

The Woolly mammoth (*Mammuthus primigenius*) is an extinct species of mammoth that lived in Europe, Asia and North America from the Middle Pleistocene to 3900 years ago.

## Taxonomy

Remains of fossil elephants were known by Europeans for centuries, but were interpreted as the remains of legendary creatures. such as behemoths or giants, based on biblical accounts.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolly\_mammoth
* https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04016-x
Taytalura

Taytalura (foreground) hiding from Eodromaeus (midground) while surrounded by Rhexoxylon (background). Credit: Jorge Blanco.

## Statistics

### Diet

Carnivorous

*Taytalura* is an extinct genus of stem-lepidosaur that lived in Argentina during the Late Triassic.

## Description

*Taytalura* was named in 2021, being the first stem-lepidosaur known. Micro-computed tomography scans of the skull show an early diapsid origin, with traits from sphenodontians occur much earlier in lepidosauromorph evolution. *Taytalura* suggests a "strongly conserved skull architecture of sphenodontians represents the plesiomorphic condition for all lepidosaurs", with stem and crown lepidosaurs contemporaneous for ~10 million years during the Triassic. It finds early lepidosaurs had a much wider geographic range than assumed.

## References

* https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03834-3
* https://phys.org/news/2021-08-fossil-species-ancient-forerunner-modern.html
Yellow Cat Cap Rock Therizinosaur

The Yellow Cat Cap Rock Therizinosaur is an unnamed genus of Therizinosaur that lived in Utah during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

The taxon is known from a locality aprroximately 500m south of the Crystal Geyser Quarry, from an upper strata in the Yellowcat, being in the Cap rock that seperates the Lower and Upper Yellow Cat. The Therizinosaur is much larger than the taxon from the Crystal Geyser, *Falcarius*. It is unlikely to be *Falcarius* because it is known from thousands of bones, representing a full ontogenetic stage.

## Classification

The other known Therizinosaur that it could be related to is Falcarius, since more derived taxa like *Nothronychus* didn't show up until after the deposit of the Cedar Mountain. This phylogyny was modified from Hartman et al. (2019)

## Paleoecology

Very little is known from the Cap Rock of the Cedar Mountain, but from the same site a Giant Ankylosaur is also reported. It is likely that all the major groups from the Yellow cat members would have coexisted with this taxon.

## References

* https://youtu.be/Thhb6Jy-Acw?t=801
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therizinosauria
Taphrhelminthopsis

*Taphrhelminthopsis* is an extinct ichnogenus of gastropod/worm/echinoid that lived in California, India, Australia and Indonesia from the Cambrian to the Miocene.

## Description

*Taphrhelminthopsis* is characterized by long trailing bilobed paths with a wide median furrow, raised edges with or without transverse scratches, tight coiling and/or close spacing. These traces are created by marine echinoids, worms and worm-like animals and gastropods, depending on the record. *Scolicia* may be a preservational variant of this type. Fossils are known from the Tonasa Limestone Formation.

## References

* https://ichnology.ku.edu/invertebrate\_traces/tfimages/taphrhelminthopsis.html
* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=83920
* https://www.mindat.org/taxon-4890314.html
* https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240675097\_The\_Tertiary\_evolution\_of\_South\_Sulawesi\_A\_record\_in\_redeposited\_carbonates\_of\_the\_Tonasa\_Limestone\_Formation
Vallecillo pachycormid

The Vallecillo pachycormid is an undescribed genus of pachycormid fish that lived in Mexico during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

An articulated fish in private collection, this fish appears to lack preserved vertebrae because it is preserved from the ventral, where the vertebrae my be hidden in the matrix. It was first discussed on The Fossil Forum under the suspicion that the fish was spineless. However, this is probably not true. The plate appears to be 3+ feet long, and is fractured in 3 places. It appears to be poorly-prepared, but does not appear to be a fake. It bears morphology most akin to pachycormids.

## References

http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/101267-spineless-fossil-fish/
Wellnhoferia

Credit: Cisiopurple on DeviantArt.

*Wellnhoferia* is a possible genus of archaeopterygid theropod that lived in Germany during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

*Wellnhoferia* is apparently differentiated by a shorter tail and fourth toe, with Andrzej Elżanowski (2001) finding these are due to "phylogenetic reduction rather than individual variation". It is represented by BSP 1999, or the Solnhofen Specimen often referred to Archaeopteryx, discovered in the 1960s near Eichstätt and described by Wellnhofer (1988). It was first found to be *Compsognathus* by an amateur collector, now housed at the Bürgermeister-Müller-Museum. Mayr et al. (2007) found *Wellnhoferia* to be *Archaeopteryx lithographica*, with Senter and Robins (2003) believing it is a new genus.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellnhoferia
Vietnamese orangutan

## Pongo hooijeri

Credit: Hodari Nundu on DeviantArt

The Vietnamese orangutan (*Pongo hooijeri*) is an extinct species of orangutan that lived in Vietnam during the Pleistocene.

## Description

IAH TK 65/123, a single left M2 tooth, is the holotype for *P. hooijeri*. It was recovered from Tham Hai Cave, a Pleistocene-aged cave from Vietnam. It lived from 0.781-0.126 million years ago.

## Paleoecology

Vietnamese orangutans likely looked very much like and preferred similar habitats to the Sumatran orangutan, with some resemblance to the Tapanuli orangutan. Pleistocene *Pongo* likely favoured lowland dipterocarp forests and old secondary forests, most populations at their densest near freshwater. However, their modern counterparts have a tolerance towards forest cleanings and open grasslands; possibly descended from Vietnamese orangutans, as the Pleistocene was cooler and less rainforest and forest was available. Mainland orangutans seem to be sympatric from a number of species, since the region would have supported a rich ecosystem. They may have shared their habitats with the giant tapir, Javan rhinoceros, gaur, Asian elephant, *Cervus*, *Sus* and the northern hairy rhinoceros. The Vietnamese orangutan and other orangutans would have also lived alongside many apes; ancestral colobines, snub-nosed monkeys and other lesser primates.

However, it is uncertain of Vietnamese orangutans were preyed upon by prosimians or lorises, the latter present in the region since the Miocene and was very likely to have encountered Vietnamese orangutans. In the trees, Vietnamese orangutans would have been able to fend off major arboreal predators due to their size and strength, but travelling across the forest floor would have made them open to leopard, tigers and dholes. Sun bears and Asian black bears may have been a threat to young, sick or weak Vietnamese orangutans. When near water, individuals would have been prey for the Siamese crocodiles and reticulated pythons. Fossil and subfossil human disposal piles show that Vietnamese orangutans were targeted as prey for hunter-gatherers. They have been described as a scansorial insectivore and an arboreal folivore and frugivore.

## References

1. ↑ J. H. Schwartz, V. T. Long, N. L. Cuong, L. T. Kha, and I. Tattersall. 1995. A review of the Pleistocene hominoid fauna of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (excluding Hylobatidae). *Anthropological Paper of the American Museum of Natural History* **76**:1-23
2. ↑ http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon\_no=183260
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pongo\_hooijeri
4. ↑ JH Schwartz, VT Long, NL Cuong, LT Kha, and I. Tattersall. 1995. A review of the Pleistocene hominoid fauna of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (excluding Hylobatidae). Anthropological Paper of the American Museum of Natural History 76: 1-23
Wangonisaurus

Wangonisaurus is an abandoned genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in Tanzania during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

Gerhard Maier (2003) coined Wangonisaurus as a nickname for a specimen likely belonging to *Giraffatitan*.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:List\_of\_informally\_named\_dinosaurs#Lists\_of\_unavailable\_genera
Thapunngaka

Credit: Richards et al..

*Thapunngaka*, nicknamed the "Fearsome Dragon" by press, is an extinct genus of anhanguerid pterosaur that lived in Australia during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

—Tim Richards, lead of the research team
*Thapunngaka* lived in Australia, being the third described. It soared over the inland Eromanga Sea, which covered most of Queensland during this time. It was discovered on Wanamara County, near Richmond, northwest Queensland. It's name means "spear mouth" in the Mayi languages, based on the words thapun and ngaka, named after Len Shaw, who discovered the holotype. The skull was over 1 meter long and filled with over 40 teeth. This would have help the animal grasp fish. Behind *Mythunga camara* and *Ferrodraco lentoni*, it is the third Australian pterosaur named and the largest, at that time, known from the region. The large crest on the tip of the mandible identified the animal. The holotype is KKF494, from a quarry northwest of Richmond in June 2011 by Len Shaw, a fossil collector, in a sequence 4-5 meters (13-16 feet) thick. It is now on display at Kronosaurus Korner, Richmond. *Thapunngaka shawi* is Australia's largest known pterosaur. The large bony crest found on its lower jaw is the third largest in the world.

## Gallery

**Credit: Sauriazoicillus on the Wikimedia Commons.**
## References

* https://scitechdaily.com/fearsome-dragon-discovered-that-soared-over-australian-outback/
* https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2021.1946068
* http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/thapunngaka-shawi-09939.html
* https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-10/dragon-like-pterosaur-outback-queensland-identified-named/100361038
VT-1446-A

Credit: Leandro Sanches.

VT-1446-A is an indeterminate genus of spinosaurid that lived in Brazil during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

VT-1446-A is an incomplete pedal nail assignable to spinosauridae from an outcrop from Ravine Boca do Forno, Itapecuru Formation, Parnaíba Basin, Maranhão. This formation presents multiple Aptian-Albian outcrops. This is the first described spinosaur pedal nail from Brazil. Because it is isolate, it is impossible to refer the specimen to a species. It is indeterminate from *Spinosaurus* subadult pedal nail FSAK-KK 11888 and *Spinosaurus* juvenile pedal nail MSNM V6894. It bears a flat ventral surface ~2 times broader than the proximal depth, a character shared of *Spinosaurus*. This individual was immature.

## References

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08912963.2021.1981890?journalCode=ghbi20
Ursus praekudarensis

Ursus Praekudarensis, commonly known as the Asian Cave Bear, is an extinct species of bear that is closely related to the Kudaro Cave Bear and the Deninger's Cave Bear. It existed from 360,000-11,700 BC.

## Statistics

### Synonyms

Ursus Deningeri PraekudarensisUrsus Kudarensis Praekudarensis

### Location

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Persia, Russia, Turkey
Painten pro-pterodactyloid

The Painten pro-pterodactyloid is an unnamed genus of basal pterodactyloid that lived in Germany during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

The specimen is known from a complete skeleton, preserved in 2D in the Painten Formation. The remains were described in 2013 by Eberhard "Dino" Frey and Helmut Tischlinger, but were not given a name. An institutional ID wasn't provided for the taxon, but it probably is a part of the collection at SMNK, since Frey worked there during the paper's publication.

## Classification

The taxon has many mosaic features of both basal and derived pterosaurs, This phylogeny was recovered by Andres (2021):

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painten\_Formationhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/286383896\_Ein\_neuer\_Pterosaurier\_mit\_Mosaikmerkmalen\_basaler\_und\_pterodactyoider\_Pterosaurier\_aus\_dem\_Ober-Kimmeridgium\_von\_Painen\_Oberpfalz\_Deutschland\_A\_new\_pterosaur\_with\_moasic\_characters\_of\_basal\_and\_ptero
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterodactyloideahttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/286383896\_Ein\_neuer\_Pterosaurier\_mit\_Mosaikmerkmalen\_basaler\_und\_pterodactyoider\_Pterosaurier\_aus\_dem\_Ober-
Vallibonavenatrix

Vallibonavenatrix attacking a crocodylomorph.

*Vallibonavenatrix* is an extinct genus of spinosaurid dinosaur that lived in Spain during the Early Cretaceous.

## History

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Juan Cano Forner, amateur fossil collector, was recovering fossils from numerous areas in Els Ports Natural Park; in one of such, the Santa Águeda locality near Vallibona, found an assemblage including dinosaurian remains. He housed these in private at Sant Mateu in 1994 Fernando Gómez-Fernández et al. (2007) described a pelvis from this collection. A cervical, 6 dorsals, an almost complete sacrum, neurapophyses fragments, 4 caudals, 10 ribs and additional fragments, 1 proximal pubis fragment and a left ischium were identified as being from this taxon. Malafaia et al. (2019) formally named this, honouring the town Vallibona amd Cano Forner. It is one of the most complete spinosaurids from the Iberian Peninsula.

## Description

*Vallibonaventrix* means "Vallibona huntress", after the local town near to the discovery site. It is a medium-sized spinosaurine. The dorsal vertebrae were quite tall, with one spine extending upwards in a fan-like trapezoidal shape, similar to *ichthyovenator*. This similarity may suggest that it may have been sail-backed like other spinosaurids. The sacrum bore deep, pleurocoelus fossae and pneumatic openings, with the latter seen in the ilium. These internal chambers were large.

## Classification

   Malafaia et al. (2019) classified it as a spinosaurid; although it was geographically closer to baryonychines, it bore the traits of spinosaurines from Gondwana and the Asian lineage of *Ichthyovenator*. Therefore, they called it a spinosaurine. Berker et al. (2021) found two possible positions based on if parsimony or Bayesian analysis were used: outside of both families as the most basal spinosaurid, or as a baryonychine. They found this controversial and unstable. Mateus and Estraviz-López (2022), like Barker et al., found that it was not a spinosaurine but may have had affinities with them as opposed to baryonychines.

## Paleoecology

Since it is closely related to *Irritator* and *Siamosaurus*, it was likely a generalist carnivore that ate aquatic prey like crocodylomorphs, pterosaurs, small-medium-sized dinosaurs and large fish. It lived during the Barremian, coexisting with *Iguanodon*, *Morelladon*, a sauropod and a baryonychine.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vallibonavenatrix
2. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667119301302
3. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327129016\_New\_spinosaurid\_Theropoda\_Megalosauroidea\_remains\_from\_the\_Arcillas\_de\_Morella\_Formation\_upper\_Barremian\_of\_Morella\_Spain
4. ↑ http://idl.campus.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/a-new-species-of-carnivorous-dinosaur-inhabited-the-iberian-peninsula-125-million-years-ago/
5. ↑ https://paleorxiv.org/mjt95/
Toxochelys

Toxochelys sp. Credit: Skye McDavid.

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

## Description

*Toxochelys* is often described as a transitional form between sea turtles and standard testudines. *Toxochelys* is among on of the most abundant turtles found near and in the Western Interior Seaway. *Toxochelys* is adapted for several advantages for effortlessly gliding through water: a light shell, flattened wrists and ankles, and forelimbs built for flapping rather than for striding. Most *Toxochelys* are found partially, although one specimen located in the Dinosaur Resource Center has a shell about 24 centimeters (9.5 inches) long. This specimen is a juvenile, representing the smallest known individual, with an articulated hip and limbs. This specimen is very rare, as baby sea turtle predation was extremely high during the Late Cretaceous.

## Gallery

### Fossils

**Credit: Triebold Paleontology Inc..****Credit: Triebold Paleontology Inc..****Credit: Triebold Paleontology Inc..***T. lateremis* specimen at the Royal Ontario Museum.
**Credit: Clumsystiggy on DeviantArt.**Toxochelys latimerus juvenile skeleton.
**Credit: Triebold Paleontology.**
## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxochelys
* https://trieboldpaleontology.com/toxochelys.html
* https://www.rmdrc.com/toxochelys-latiremis/
Wessex Formation Possible Elaphrosaurinae

Right tibia NHMUK PV R186.

The Wessex Formation Possible Elaphrosaurinae is an unnamed genus of Ceratosaurian dinosaur with possible Elaphrosaurine affiliation that lived in England during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

The taxon is known from specimen NHMUK R186, an unassigned specimen with a cast cataloged as UOP-C002-2004, a juvenile specimen, MIWG 6214, and another unassigned specimen from the Dinosaur Expeditions Centre collection. It is known from tibiae, a dorsal vertebra, a proximal metatarsals, a partial sacrum, four pedal phalanges, an incomplete femur and fragments of the fibula and illia. All of these specimens are currently referred to as *Calamosaurus foxi*, but since there isn't any overlap, this assessment is baseless. It can currently be compared directly with *Aristosuchus* and the Angeac taxon from France. Allain et al. (2014) claims that this taxon and the Angeac taxon are very similar.

## References

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

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

## Statistics

### Diet

Herbivorous

*Woznikella* is a genus of dicynodont that lived in Germany and Poland during the Late Triassic.

## Description

*Woznikella* is known from an immature fragmentary skeleton including the preorbital and frontal portion of the skull, mandible, parts of the cervicals and dorsals, ribs, a pectoral girdle and fragmentary limbs. The scapula is very autapomorphic; being very slender without a pronounced spine and a craniodorsally-directed acromion that is very hook-like. Other parts of the skeleton also have a unique character combination.

## Classification

The newest dataset was used to recover the following:

## References

* https://vertpaleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SVP\_2021\_VirtualBook\_final.pdf
* https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235731335\_A\_dicynodont\_mandible\_from\_the\_Triassic\_of\_Germany\_forms\_the\_first\_evidence\_of\_large\_herbivores\_in\_the\_Central\_European\_Basin
* Szczygielski, T., and Sulej, T. (2023). *Woznikella triradiata* n. gen., n. sp. – a new kannemeyeriiform dicynodont from the Late Triassic of northern Pangea and the global distribution of Triassic dicynodonts. *Comptes Rendus Palevol* (in French). **22** (16): 279–406. doi:10.5852/cr-palevol2023v22a16.
Yellow Cat Cap Rock Ankylosaur

The Yellow Cat Cap Rock Ankylosaur is an unnamed genus of probable Nodosaurid Ankylosaur that lived in Utah during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

The taxon is known from a locality aprroximately 500m south of the Crystal Geyser Quarry, from an upper strata in the Yellowcat, being in the Cap rock that seperates the Lower and Upper Yellow Cat members. This taxon was referred to as a "GIANT ankylosaur" which means it is probably at least the size as the largest known Ankylosaur from the formation, *Peloroplites* from the later Mussentuchit Member.

## Paleoecology

Very little is known from the Cap Rock of the Cedar Mountain, but from the same site a Yellow Cat Cap Rock Therizinosaur is also reported. It is likely that all the major groups from the Yellow cat members would have coexisted with this taxon.

## References

* https://youtu.be/Thhb6Jy-Acw?t=796
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar\_Mountain\_Formation
Uña Albanerpetonid

Timeline of albanerpetonid taxa.

The Uña Albanerpetonid is an unnamed genus of Amphibian that lived in Spain during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

The taxon is known from at least a pair of frontals.

## Classification

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

## References

* https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abb6005
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanerpetontidae
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La\_Hu%C3%A9rguina\_Formation
UDC Chubut Sauropod

The taxon being prepared.

The UDC Chubut Sauropod is an unnamed genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in Argentina during the Jurassic.

## Description

The taxon (UDC coll.) is known at least 6 articulated vertebrae, It was estimated to be 157 million years old, which would probably make the taxon from the Cañadón Calcáreo Formation.

## References

* https://twitter.com/mefpatagonia/status/1496917639549141001
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ca%C3%B1ad%C3%B3n\_Calc%C3%A1reo\_Formation
Xiaophis

*Xiaophis* is an extinct genus of snake that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Xiaophis* is known from two specimens preserved in amber, one is a partially decomposed juvenile and the other, a shed snake skin. The decomposed individual lacks a head, and contains 97 vertebrae. It lived in a forest, slithering under the undergrowth. The shed skin sample preserves specific scale placement and colouration. *Xiaophis* snakes had rhomboidal spots, that were coloured white and black. The scales are ovoid, with lines between each scales caused by the skin. No large ventral scales can be seen.

## References

http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/snake-hatchling-amber-06219.html
Zhongyuansaurus

Credit: Jack Wood.

*Zhongyuansaurus* is an extinct genus of ankylosaurid that lived in China during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

*Zhongyuansaurus* is known from skull, arm, pelvic, tail and armour material. The genus is known from several autapomorphies, such as a flat roof of its skull, a straight ischium and muscles which attach to the upper arm. *Zhongyuansaurus* was published in 2007 as the first Chinese nodosaur; a conclusion based on its elongate skull and lack of a club-tail. *Zhongyuansaurus* was reevaluated in 2008 as a shamosaurine ankylosaurid, a group which is differentiated via their lack of a tail club. In 2011, *Zhongyuansaurus* was re-reevaluated as a basalmost ankylosaurid, thus declared the first in the clade to lack a tail club. In 2014, Victoria Arbour concluded that *Zhongyuansaurus* was likely a junior synonym of *Gobisaurus*.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhongyuansaurus
Tanyrhinichthys

Credit: Nobu Tamura.

*Tanyrhinichthys* is an extinct genus of fish that lived in New Mexico during the Late Carboniferous.

## Description

*Tanyrhinichthys* has a pointed snout, a slender body, and crushing jaws n the underside of its elongates snout. *Tanyrhinichthys* was redescribed in 2020, emphasizing the sturgeon-like traits, and the different evolutionary path. *Tanyrhinichthys* was originally described in 1987.

## References

http://novataxa.blogspot.com/2020/06/tanyrhinichthys.html
Vegagete Ornithopod

Reconstruction of the Vegagete Ornithopod's foot.

The Vegagete Ornithopod is an unnamed genus of Rhabdodontomorph dinosaur that lived in Spain during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

This taxon is known from at least 5 individuals, composing 3 distinct ontogenetic stages, ranging from presumably juvenile, to sub-adult to adult remains. All the remains of the taxon are not assigned to any one collection number, so each bone has it's own number, MDS-VG 1-280. Cranial remains incule several maxillae, premaxillae, dentaries, along with teeth and a laterosphenoid (braincase). The axial remains include; 7 dorsal, 1 dorso-sacral, 2 sacral, 8 caudal, and 3 cervical vertebrae. Appendicular elements reported include; a scapula, 2 right humeri, 2 left ulnae, a left illium, 4 right femurs, 2 left femurs, an femur of presumably indeterminate handedness, 3 left tibulae, 1 right tibia, left metatarsals I (1), II (2), III (2), IV (2), phalanx I-1, 2 phalanx II-1 (left and right), and II-2 (left), phalanx III-1 (left), 2 phalanx III-2 (right and uncertain), phalanx III-3 (left), 2 phalanx IV-1 (both right), phalanx IV-2, IV-3, and IV-4 (all left) and claws I, II, III, and IV (left, left, left, and right). It can be distinguished by its combination of basal and derived traits. it has at least 3 premaxillary teeth, an ilio-tibialis groove, maxillae and denterary teeth similar, but not identical to Rhabdodontids. This taxon represents the oldest member of Rhabdodontomorpha taxon so far found.

## Phylogyny

This Phylogyny was recovered by Dieudonné et. al. (2016)

## Paleoenvironment

the Castrillo de la Reina formation is a fullivial deposit. It would have shared its environment with Sauropods *Demandasaurus* and *Europatitan* and the lizard *Arcanosaurus*. Indeterminate Ornithopod, Iguanodontian remains and a Spinosaurid tooth (PS-JTS 20) have been found.

## References

* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4917257/
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castrillo\_de\_la\_Reina\_Formation
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhabdodontidae
* https://theropoddatabase.com/Megalosauroidea.htm#Spinosauridae
Troodontid Future New Genus

The Troodontid Future New Genus is an unnamed genus of troodontid dinosaur that lived in South Dakota during the Late Cretaceous.

## History

The specimen was legally excavated from private property by an excavation team and then put up for sale on Ebay for over 1,000,000 dollars in 2013. The specimen remains unsold, but has been confirmed as real by the Black Hills Institute and Peter Larson, who called the specimen an "instant kill". Larson, Robert Farrar and the Black Hills preparation team cresotred less than 1% of the specimen, only adding some white plaster to the end of the last metacarpal. The team had suspected the specimen was a "raptor dinosaur" in the field before full recovery. The specimen was brought to the Black Hills Institute and the bones at the surface of the specimen were cleaned, but they were not cleared from their matrix because the discovery team wanted the articulation to be present to potential buyers. In 50 hours, the specimen was prepared.

## Description

The "Future New Genus" is known from a double-sided specimen that preserves the legs and some claws. The slab is 25x19 inches and is articulated. Peter Larson concluded that the specimen was likely a new genus during and after preparation, with Larson and other Black Hills Institute staff expressing their desire for the specimen. Troodontid remains from the Hell Creek Formation are likely some of the rarest specimens, with only 1% of troodontid remains being discovered and being "by far" the rarest dinosaur from Hell Creek. According to the sellers, this specimen would account of at least 50% of that statistic. The specimen includes the pelvic region, metatarsals, feet, claws, tibiae and fibiae. They also note some metatarsals and metacarpals had washed down the hillside, and were put in glass cases for sale. Some faunal analyses report articulated troodontid specimens from Hell Creek similar to this specimen.

## References

* https://www.ebay.com.hk/itm/153373197741
* http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/94829-amazing-articulated-troodon-skeleton/
* https://books.google.ca/books?id=cHvcIeh2f84C&pg=PA170&lpg=PA170&dq=troodon+hell+creek+articulated&source=bl&ots=5WFEEdNO9i&sig=ACfU3U32e1Ag9iZ1OKNB45u7bjh4iyhlkg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwin5uy7nYf1AhV1lIkEHc6PCDQQ6AF6BAgZEAM#v=onepage&q=troodon%20hell%20creek%20articulated&f=false
Tiktaalik

Credit: Nobu Tamura.

*Tiktaalik* is an extinct species of tetrapodomorph "fishapod" fish that lived in Ellesmere Island, Nunavut during the late Devonian.

## History

Twenty-seven fossils were found in 2004 at a site known as NV2K17 on the southern part of Ellesmere Island in Nunavut, Canada during an expedition led by Neil Shubin. These are from the Fram formation, dated to 375 million years ago.

In 2006, these were the basis for the description of a genus and species, *Tiktaalik roseae*, named by Edward Daeschler, Neil Shubin & Farish Jenkins. The name means "a large, freshwater fish seen in the shallows" in Inuktitut.

The holotype of *Tiktaalik* is NUFV 108, part of the Nunavut Fossil Vertebrate Collection. The referred specimens are part of this same collection, catalogued NUFV 109 through NUFV 135. Three specimens, NUFV 108, NUFV 109, and NUFV 110 include skulls and an articulated fin/limb and pectoral girdle. These specimens were originally housed in the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Ontario prior to the construction of facilities in Nunavut. As of 2015, no such facility has been built.

From 2006 to 2010, *Tiktaalik* was believed to be closely related to the ancestor of tetrapods, but this has been cast into doubt by the discovery of tetrapod tracks that predate *Tiktaalik* by twelve million years.

## Description

Though it is probably not an ancestor of tetrapods, it shares many features in common with them. On the other hand, it also shares many features in common with non-tetrapod sarcopterygian fish. Some of its features are transitional between those of non-tetrapod sarcopterygians and tetrapods.  *Tiktaalik* had gills, scales, spiracles, tetrapod-like ribs, a mobile neck, and lungs. Most significantly, the anatomy of its fins has the same basic structure as tetrapod limbs.

## Paleoecology

*Tiktaalik* lived in rivers and streams in a tropical climate. It lived alongside *Asterolepis*, *Laccognathus*, and various other fishes.

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 https://www.nature.com/articles/nature04639
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiktaalik
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 *Your Inner Fish* (documentary miniseries), PBS
4. ↑ https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/65674nunavuts\_fish-fossil\_treasures\_come\_home\_to\_canada/
5. ↑ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zachelmie\_tracks\_vs\_selected\_Devonian\_fossils.svg
Telecrex

*Telecrex* is an extinct genus of guineafowl that lived in Inner Mongolia during the Eocene.

## History

AMNH 2942 is the holotype and only specimen, discovered from the Irdin Manha Formation in Inner Mongolia, China. Wetmore (1934) placed *Telecrex* as a species of rail. However, Storrs Olson reexamined the bone, making it the earliest known species of guineafowl.

## References

1. ↑ https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/wilson/v086n03/p0246-p0250.pdf
Xiaocaris

Credit: Xiaodong Wang

*Xiaocaris* is an extinct genus of arthropod that lived in China during the Cambrian.

## Description

*Xiaocaris* is peculiar for its insights into early arthropod evolution. *Xiaocaris* had about 54 legs, each with 15 spines on each leg. *Xiaocaris* was an omnivorous detritivore, eating organic matter. In total, *Xiaocaris* had over 800 defensive spines. *Xiaocaris* had a very shrimp-like shell, plated with a ridged fluked tail. *Xiaocaris* may have used its spines to shred organic matter into pieces small enough to be ingested, and digested,

## References

https://www.livescience.com/cambrian-scavenger-with-daggers.html
Viavenator

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

## Description

*Viavenator* was given a new group: Furileusauria, with *Carnotaurus*. Although *Viavenator* shares many traits of *Majungasaurus*, it was more related to *Carnotaurus*. CT scans performed on the brain of *Viavenator* showed that it had a good sense of hearing and similar brain and ear canal structure to *Aucasaurus*.
Wadanaang

"Wadanaang" is a naked genus of madtsoiid snake that lived in Pakistan during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

"Wadanaang" is known from several teeth, associated with a partial dentary, and a vertebra. The teeth (which appear to be part of a single tooth row) and vertebrae appear to belong to a single individual.

## References

* Malkani, M. Sadiq. (2021). Formal description of poripuchian titanosaurs, theropods, mesoeucrocodiles, pterosaur, snake and bird from the latest Maastrichtian Vitakri Formation of Pakistan. Open Journal of Geology. 11. 275-318.
Transexcrementum

*Transexcrementum* is an extinct ichnogenus of reptile excrement that lived in Maryland and maybe Denmark, possibly from the Early Cretaceous to the Middle Miocene.

## History

CMM-V-5805, discovered by Mike Ellwood from Warrior's Rest (SZ 14, Plum Point Member, Calvert Formation), Calvert Cliffs, southern Maryland, is the holotype; it was likely dropped by a crocodilian. The specific epithet comes from the Latin word for 'burrow'. CMM-V-6500 (burrowed vertebrate, crocodilian?, coprolite collected by Ellwood as a beach float from Warrior's Rest) and CMM-V-7958 (burrowed vertebrate coprolite collected by Paul Murdoch as a beach float at Warrior's Rest) are paratypes; they were not found in situ so there is no reason to assume that they were derived from the adjacent cliffs at Warrior's Rest Sanctuary. SZ 11-19, their localities, are exposed and date to 16-12 million years ago.

## Description

*Transexcrementum* is diagnosed by cylindrical tunneling coprolites that are not lined or backfilled, with opening and transverse sections being subcircular, a supra-millimetric diameter up to 20 millimeters and being rather constant, conical inner terminations, straight or gently-curving tunnel morphology that sometimes branches and internal sculpturing is sometimes present in short and irregularly-oriented scratches and gouges. Herbivorous dinosaur coprolites described as being made by dung beetles suggest a similar morphology but can not be assigned to this genus because they are backfilled. Additionally, Milàn et al. (2012) described two deep cylindrical burrows (MGUH 29,809) from the Jydegaard Formation in Bornholm, Denmark. Though these are only 5 millimeters in diameter their morphology lines up well and may be assigned to *Transexcrementum*.

## References

https://sjpp.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13358-022-00250-6
Xiphiorhynchus

This article does not meet the standards set by the Prehistoric wiki Manual of Style. Please edit it.

## Statistics

### Location

North/South America, Europe and Antarctica

### Diet

Carnivorous

*Xiphiorhynchus* is an extinct genus of prehistoric swordfish that lived in the Americas, Antarctica and Europe from the Early Eocene to the Late Miocene.

## Description

Unlike modern swordfish, *Xiphiorhynchus* bears two pointy jaws rather than just one. Most specimens grew to 5 meters in length, but some may have grew to sizes comparable to a great white shark. *X. elegans* is the type

## Species

 File:Xiphiorhynchus sp.png
* *X. eocaenicus*
* *X. elegans*
* *X. parvus*
* *X. priscus*
* *X. rotundus*

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiphiorhynchus
Thalassomedon

Credit: Connor Ashbridge on the Wikimedia Commons.

*Thalassomedon* is an extinct genus of plesiosaur that lived in the United States during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Thalassomedon* is among the largest plesiosaurs, being placed at a large 10.86 meters (35.6 feet). An isolated skull suggests that *Thalassomedon* may have been much larger, estimated at the massive 11.7 meters (38 feet). *Thalassomedon* was closest related to *Elasmosaurus*, and is known from six specimens of varying preservation. *Thalassomedon*'s neck has about 62 vertebrae, and is about 5.9 meters (19 feet), over half the size of the animals total length.

Stones discovered in *Thalassomedon's* stomach leads some to believe that the stones were swallowed to help the digestion on it's food. The contractions the stomach made would have moved the stones, grinding the matter into small enough segments to digest. The stones would have been defecated out when they were smooth. The stones may have been used as a ballast, helping the animal maneuver and float in water.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassomedon
Ursus savini

Ursus Savini, also known as the Small Cave Bear, is an extinct species of bear that lived from 2.58 MYA-30,000 BC in Russia. It has three subspecies.

## Statistics

### Diet

Possibly fed on other animals that coexisted with it

## Subspecies

* Ursus Savini Nordostensis - Beringian Cave Bear
* Ursus Savini Savini - Russian Cave Bear
* Ursus Savini Uralensis - Ural Cave Bear