recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Eunectes stirtoni

*Eunectes stirtoni* is a possibly invalid species of boid that lived in Columbia during the Middle Miocene.

## Description

*E. stirtoni* is an extinct species under the genus *Eunectes* that lived in 13.8-11.8 million years ago (Laventan) in Columbia. This species is known from fossils discovered in La Venta in 1977, existing where the modern Tatacoa Desert is. *E. stirtoni* is based on a right prootic and an incomplete basisphenoid. Hoffstetter and Rage (1977) state they are distinct, based on morphology in *E. murinus*. They assigned an incomplete vertebral series associated with the holotype to *E. stirtoni*, but lacks a description. Hecht and LaDuke (1997) examined these vertebrae, questioning the allocation to *Eunectes*. They argued the size and shape, including other characters, do not match with vertebral morphology in *Eunectes*. However, they did not discuss these features. Thus, the validity of this species is disputed.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunectes\_stirtoni
* https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-herpetology/volume-43/issue-4/08-295.1/Presence-of-the-Genus-Eunectes-Serpentes-Boidae-in-the-Neogene/10.1670/08-295.1.short
Ghost Panina

The ghost Panina is an unnamed genus or species of Panina that lived in Central Africa from the Middle Pliocene to the Middle Pleistocene

## History

Martin Kuhlwilm and Tomas Marques-Bonet started conceptualized the idea of 'genomic fossils' hidden in the genome of *Pan*, much like various later species in *Homo* such as modern humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans, to reveal gene flow within extinct populations not preserved within the fossil record. However, finding genomic resources was difficult as the Congo, home of bonobos, was politically unstable and ape genomes in general are scarce. Because they had more chimpanzee resources, they searched there more heavily than in bonobos. Bonobo samples originated from Lola Ya Bonobo, a sanctuary for orphaned individuals, where they found the first evidence of a ghost lineage. They deemed searching in chimpanzees more likely because there are many subspecies that occupy a greater region, leaving room for more possible gene flow. The signals detected in bonobos are much less than in *Homo*.

## Classification

Gene flow was detected between (not only) chimpanzees and bonobos, but another extinct lineage that began to interbreed about 500,000 years ago. It is suggested that they diverged from Panina ~3.3 million years ago. Interbreeding with extant bonobo populations led to their genetic signature being carried in the genomes of extant individuals. They represent a distinct lineage.

## References

* https://ecoevocommunity.nature.com/posts/48367-the-ghost-ape-in-bonobos
* https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/28/1/615/984161
Heterodontosaurus

*Heterodontosaurus* is an extinct genus of heterodontosaurid dinosaur that lived in South Africa during the Early Jurassic.

## History

The holotype of *Heterodontosaurus tucki*, SAM-PK-K337, was unearthed on a British-South African expedition to South Africa and Basutoland (=Lesotho) from 1961-1962. Today, the holotype is housed in the Iziko South African Museum.

## Description

*Heterodontosaurus* was small. The most complete specimen is SAM-PK-K1332, which belonged to an animal about 1.18 meters (3 feet 10 inches) long.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodontosaurus
Fluvionectes

Credit: Connor Ashbridge on the Wikimedia Commons.

*Fluvionectes* is an extinct genus of elasmosaur that lived in Alberta during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

The holotype represents the most complete plesiosaur remains from the Dinosaur Park Formation, recently prepared. The specimen itself is the body, with the vase of the neck and tail attached. The trunk also attaches to a partial fore and hind limb, with a single tooth which makes up *Fluvionectes*. The clavicular arch is shaped like a boomerang, the process of the latter is acute, a convex anterolateral margin with a pronounced ventral keel and all 22 dorsal vertebrae and 1 anterior centra bearing ventral notches. The holotype was collected from what was an estuarine or bay and fluvial channel deposits. The holotype is also mature, reaching 5 meters long, with the largest Dinosaur Park plesiosaur being 7 meters long. This could possibly mean small body sizes can best be attributed to typical marine elasmosaurs and is consistent with plesiosaurs from non-marine settings. The presence of such elasmosaurs may point out niche-partitioning in mostly-oceanic elasmosaurs.
Fortipesavis

Before formal naming or identification, this organism was known as the following on this wiki:
**YLSNHM01001**

## Statistics

### Diet

Carnivorous?

*Fortipesavis* is an extinct genus of enathiornitheans that lived in Europe during the Late Cretaceous.

## History

*Fortipesavis* derives from the Latin "fortipes" meaning "strong-footed" and "avis", meaning "bird". The epithet translates (from Latin) to "grasp" or "grip". The entire means "gripping strong-footed bird".

## Description

*Fortipesavis* is known from a foot and a tail encased in Burmese amber, exhibiting strange morphology compared to other Cretaceous enantiornithes and extant birds. YLSNHM01001 shows a mediolaterally robust fourth pedal digit, which is almost twice the size of digit II. This is found in no other Mesozoic or Cenozoic bird, which has justified the erection of a new genus and species to classify YLSNHM01001; *Fortipesavis prehendens*. However, the syndactyl-like foot conditions are very much like some birds, which is hypothesized to increase the foot area, which may help griping onto a perch via friction. This adaptation may suggest *Fortipesavis* used mobile perches similarly to the extant kingfisher.

## References

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.654156/full
Gyaltsenglossus

Credit: Emily S. Damstra.

*Gyaltsenglossus* is an extinct genus of acorn worm that lived in Canada during the Early Middle Cambrian.

## Description

*Gyaltsenglossus* is about 2 centimeters long, sports many leafy tentacles and a bulbous end. Fossils of *Gyaltsenglossus* are exceptionally preserved, showing soft tissue placement in life. It is thought that *Gyaltsenglossus* was primarily a mud-burrower, since it resides in a group of invertebrate worms known commonly as acorn worms. The fossils show an oval-shaped proboscis and intricate feeding baskets. The Burgess Shale rapidly covered a *Gyaltsenglossus* carcass, causing remarkable preservation. *Gyaltsenglossus* used both feeding strategies modern acorn worms use; the tentacles grabbing suspended food particles and the proboscis used to feed on rich marine mud.

## Notable Specimens

* ROMIP 65606.1: The holotype specimen; preserving soft tissue elements well, such as the proboscis, tentacles and body.

## References

https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/a-bizarre-half-billion-year-old-worm-with-tentacles-solves
Farmington Member tyrannosaurid

Credit: Sergey Krasovskiy.

The Farmington Member tyrannosaurid is an undiscovered genus of tyrannosaurid dinosaur that lived in New Mexico during the Late Cretaceous.

## History

The holotype of *Bisticeratops*, the only dinosaur known from the Farmington Member of the Kirtland Formation, preserves injuries inflicted by a tyrannosaurid dinosaur. These are, bite traces on the right maxilla, right epijugal, proximal right squamosal and left premaxilla, with full penetrations on the premaxilla, maxilla and squamosal. The remodeled bone around the largest bite on the right maxilla suggested survival after the attack. However, bites on the right squamosal and left premaxilla lack this and are thus likely postmortem. The position of the bites suggests that it attacked from the right. The attacker was suggested to have had a narrow snout and a bite force comparable to *Gorgosaurus*. Tyrannosaurids from this formation are indeterminate or have been misclassified and actually belong to an over- or underlying formation. However, indeterminate tyrannosaurids from an unknown member consist of a partial skeleton, dentary, metatarsal and many teeth.

## References

* https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Comparison-of-the-skulls-of-North-American-tyrannosaurids-in-dorsal-view-A\_fig3\_328676803
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirtland\_Formation#Saurischians
Gigantspinosaurus

Credit: A Wannabe Paleoartist on Twitter.

*Gigantspinosaurus* is an extinct genus of stegosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic in China.

## Description

*Gigantspinosaurus* is known from several distinguishing features, like the large spines on each shoulder, reduced back plates, broad hips and 33 teeth. *Gigantspinosaurus* is identified by the peculiar plates on its back, which are reduced, and in two rows. The plates stop halfway down its back, and lead to more spikes. Remains are known of the Shaximiao Formation, including indeterminate remains.

## Classification

*Gigantspinosaurus* was first classified as the most basal stegosaur, but after later research in 2018, *Chungkingosaurus* and *Huayangosaurus* were the most basal stegosaurs.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantspinosaurus
Hisanohamasaurus

"Hisanohamasaurus" is a naked genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in Japan during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

It is known from teeth, appearing in a general-audience book by David Lambert in 1990. It was found in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan, and reclassified as a nemegtosaurid closer to *Nemegtosaurus* than the original diplodocid classification.

## References

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

*Heliobatis* is an extinct genus of stingray that lived in North America during the Eocene.

## Description

*Heliobatis* had a flat and round body that bore long tail with spines. *Heliobatis* possessed claspers, like modern stingrays, being sexually dimorphic. An individual may have up to three barbed denticles on their tails, though some are born with less. This genus is thought to have lived in the demersal zone. As in the extant genus *Raja*, *Heliobatis*' teeth are small and closely-spaced. Said teeth are triangular in shape, adapted for feeding on small fish, crustaceans and molluscs. The animals tail is long, often missing its end, bearing small spines along the dorsal midline. The tail is up-to half of the total animals body size.

## Paleoecology

*Heliobatis* waited at the bottom of rivers and lakes, eating crustaceans. When encountered, *Heliobatis* lashed out with its sharp tail. *Heliobatis* possibly could inject venom through its tail. *Heliobatis* is especially common in the Green River Formation, where extinct crustaceans *Procambarus* and *Bechleja* are found.

## Synonyms

* *Dasyatis sp.*
* *Palaeodasybatis discus*
* *Xiphotrygon acutidens*
* *Xyphotrygus sp.*

## References

* Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life, p. 45
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliobatis
Eopolis

*Eopolis* is an extinct ichnogenus of insects that lived in Utah during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

Specimens are known from the Brushy Basin of the Morrison Formation, preserving the remnants of social burrowing insects. These complex tunnels form a nest, which is very similar to insects today, with branching arms and ovate chambers. It is theorized these were made by termites, as it resembles termite burrows.

## References

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345901021\_New\_social\_insect\_nests\_from\_the\_Upper\_Jurassic\_Morrison\_Formation\_of\_Utah
Gallardosaurus

*Gallardosaurus* is an extinct genus of pliosaur that lived in the Caribbean during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

*Gallardosaurus* is known from one fossil, MNNHCu P3005, was found in a dark shale in a concretion. The specimen was relatively 3D, with minor disfigurements. The lack of fusion in the specimens vertebrae suggests that the individual was immature at death.

## Paleoecology

*Gallardosaurus* may have migrated seasonally to the Caribbean Seaway. The predator would have hunted nektonic fish, and coexisted with ichthyosaurs, the turtle *Caribemys* and the plesiosaur *Vinialesaurus*. The water *Gallardosaurus* inhabited was at least 10-12 meters (33-39 feet) deep. Oysters and algae blanketed the sea floor. However, fossils of pterosaurs, dinosaurs and plants have been found to have colonized the nearby land.

## Classification

*Gallardosaurus* is placed in Pliosauridae, and is closely affiliated with *Hauffiosaurus*, *Kronosaurus*, *Peloneustes* (very close affiliation to *Gallardosaurus*), *Liopleurodon*, *Brachauchenius* and *Pliosaurus*.

## Notable Specimens

* MNNHCu P3005: The holotype of *Gallardosaurus*, which was found semi-3D in a concretion. This specimen was likely immature by its death date.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallardosaurus
Gurlin Tsav Azhdarchid

Credit: Joschua Knüppe.

The Gurilin Tsav azhdarchid, sometimes known in poor taste as the Mongol Giant ("Mongol", a demeaning term for Mongolians), is an unnamed genus of azhdarchid that lived in Mongolia during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

This pterosaur is known from several neck vertebrae, which consist of the fragmented centrum from the 8th or 9th vertebrae and the right arch of the 8th or 9th vertebrae. The animals centrum is very wide, being as long as wide. They are also very flat and shield-shaped, unlike most which are cupped like a spoon. The Gurlin Tsav azhdarchid hunted in lush, forested areas with weaving rivers and even swamps.

## References

https://www.pteros.com/pterosaurs/mongol-giant.html
El Weirdo

El Weirdo reconstructed based on Grogan, Lund and Greenfest-Allen (2012; top) and on Grogan, Lund and Greenfest-Allen (2014; bottom). Credit: @Nick63144375 on Twitter.

## Statistics

### Diet

Carnivorous

El Weirdo, Elweir or CM 41033 is a bizarre, unnamed genus of holocephali fish that lived in Montana during the Early Carboniferous.

## Description

This fish has been mentioned and revised in The Origin and Relationships of Early Chondrichthyans (2012) and Ecomorphology of the Mississippian fishes of the Bear Gulch Limestone (Heath formation, Montana, USA) (2014), both having varying outcomes. El Weirdo is a complete skeleton of a female individual which has rumoured pigment preservation. In 2012, it was grouped with *Belantsea* in the E6 morphotype, which has complex maneuverability. Grogan (1993) and the 2012 paper states the fish has expansive fins, lacks marginal teeth, has enlarged labial cartilages and bears an oral rim observed in clupeid teleosts, finding it was a likely suction feeder. The body plan is very similar to the lionfish, where the authors draw the conclusion CM 41033 was a suction feeder. This taxon alongside *Heteropetalus, Debeerius* and orochoms seem to have a size range through sexual maturity. The 2014 paper describes it and a "Mush Mouth" as the E1 ecomorphotype, described as trawling filter-feeding fish with anterior visceral jaws, a lack of squamation and toothless jaws. However, both papers list El Weirdo as a different ecomorphotype, leading to the true ecomorphology of this taxon remaining unknown. El Weirdo was mentions in the SVP 2017 abstracts and an SVP talk, where a formal description was mentioned.

## References

* https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285841691\_The\_Origin\_and\_Relationships\_of\_Early\_Chondrichthyans
* https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264549588\_Ecomorphology\_of\_the\_Mississippian\_fishes\_of\_the\_Bear\_Gulch\_Limestone\_Heath\_formation\_Montana\_USA
* SVP 2017 abstracts and presentation
Evgenavis

Credit: Skye McDavid.

*Evgenavis* is an extinct genus of birds that lived in Siberia during the Early Cretaceous.

## History

The holotype of *Evgenavis*, ZIN PH 1/154, is an isolated tarsometatarsus from the Shestakovo 3 locality, part of the Ilek Formation in Siberia. It was originally interpreted as a Confuciusornithiform, though a later analysis found it was a Longipterygid. Hoever, it was later identified as a plain enantiornithe.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-vertebrate-paleontology/volume-34/issue-3/02724634.2013.828734/A-Confuciusornithiform-Aves-Pygostylia-Like-Tarsometatarsus-from-the-Early-Cretaceous/10.1080/02724634.2013.828734.short
2. ↑ https://peerj.com/articles/7247/
3. ↑ https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=294798
Eryma

E. mandelslohi.

*Eryma* is an extinct genus of lobster that presumably lived worldwide from the Permian to the Cretaceous.

## Classification

The genus *Eryma* is made of 44 distinct species. *Macrourites*, a now dubious genus, was combined with *Eryma*, *Aeger* and *Glyphea*.

## Species

* *E. affinis*
* *E. amalthei*
* *E. americana*
* *E. americanum*
* *E. antiquum*
* *E. babeaui*
* *E. bedelta*
* *E. boloniensis*
* *E. bordenensis*
* *E. burgundiaca*
* *E. caraboeufi*
* *E. compressum*
* *E. corallinum*
* *E. crassimanum*
* *E. cretacea*
* *E. cumonti*
* *E. curvum*
* *E. delphinensis*
* *E. deslongchampsi*
* *E. dutertrei*
* *E. flecta*
* *E. flectum*
* *E. foersteri*
* *E. fossatum*
* *E. georgei*
* *E. glaessneri*
* *E. gracilimanum*
* *E. guisei*
* *E. hoerstgenensis*
* *E. jungostrix*
* *E. karitzkyi*
* *E. lafayi*
* *E. lerasi*
* *E. leucodermum*
* *E. loryi*
* *E. madagascariensis*
* *E. major*
* *E. mandelslohi*
* *E. meyeri*
* *E. modestiforme*
* *E. modestiformis*
* *E. mosquensis*
* *E. nicklesi*
* *E. nippon*
* *E. ollerenshawi*
* *E. ornati*
* *E. orthodactylum*
* *E. pulchellum*
* *E. punctatum*
* *E. quadriverrucatum*
* *E. quenstedti*
* *E. radiatum*
* *E. rinellincolum*
* *E. romani*
* *E. sinemuriana*
* *E. squalida*
* *E. stantoni*
* *E. strambergensis*
* *E. stricklandi*
* *E. sulcatum*
* *E. tuberculata*
* *E. ventrosum*
* *E. vocontii*
* *E. walkerae*

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eryma
* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=22426
Gallimimus

*Gallimimus* is an extinct genus of ornithomimid dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia.

## Description

*Gallimimus* used its long, thin legs for outrunning predators. The long neck on *Gallimimus*' body was likely used for foraging low to the ground on shrubs and bushes. *Gallimimus* used its tail fan and wings for steering while running at quickly. The highest sprinting speed has been estimated to about 42-56 km/h (29-34 mph). *Gallimimus* had a sharp beak for sheering tough plants for digestion.

*Gallimimus* is the largest member of Ornithomimidae. The closely related *Ornithomimus* bore feathers, and based on quill nobs on the animals ulna, meaning that *Gallimimus* bore wing-like structures on their arms. Feathers likely covered the rest of the body, from down its head, over its body, above its hips and along it tail. *Gallimimus* had a bird-like skull, which had a long beak and large eye orbits. The head was light in comparison to the vertebral column. The top of the snout is very smooth, and slopes up and into the eyes orbits. Unlike other ornithomimosaurs, *Gallimimus*' snout did not narrow at the beaks tip. Instead, the snout is broad, and comes to a blunt point.

One specimen of *Gallimimus* is known from a nearly complete skeleton, and was named "Gallimimus mongoliensis" based off several differences. The specimen likely represents a new genus.
Harpactognathus

Credit: DiegoOA on DeviantArt.

*Harpactognathus* is an extinct genus of rhamphorynchine pterosaur that lived in Wyoming during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

*Harpactognathus* was erected upon NAMAL 101, a partial skull (snout) from near Bone Cabin Quarry, Albany County, Wyoming in 1996. They found it was most similar to *Scaphognathus*, but was much larger. It had a skull 280-300 millimeters (11-12 inches) and a wingspan of about 2.5 meters (8.2 feet). It had a low bony crest that ran to the tip of the beak. It was the oldest Morrison pterosaur, from the Kimmeridgian-aged Salt Wash Member.

## Paleobiology

*Harpactognathus* was specialized to be a specialized aerial predator in an inland habitat. However, recent analysis shows they lack the traits for piscivory and were instead likely predators of small vertebrates and corvid-like generalists.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpactognathus
Etjosuchus

A Etjosuchus mural by Christine Marais, which has existed since the 2000s.

*Etjosuchus* is an extinct genus of rauisuchian that lived in Namibia during the Middle Triassic.

## History

*Etjosuchus* was first noted as a specimen of *Erythrosuchus* by Pickford (1994, 1995) and other papers on the Mt. Etjo fauna. A mural was made for the GSN exhibit space by Christine Marais, which details the collection, study and restoration of the remains. This has been known since the 2000s.

## Description

Etjosuchus branches earlier than rauisuchids and crcodylomorphs. This animal supports comparison with the Gondwanan Santa Maria Formation, Chañares Formation and Manda Beds.

## References

* https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14772019.2021.1931501
* https://twitter.com/Synapsida/status/1430544572451418113
Gnathomortis

Credit: Dominik Hammelsbruch.

*Gnathomortis* is an extinct genus of mosasaur that lived in Colorado during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Gnathomortis* is differentiated from similar mosasaur genera from several autapomorphies. One. a large depression on the surface of its mandible. A trait similar to modern lizards, like the collared lizard. The depression is an indication of large jaw muscles, which would have attached to the lower jaw to form a great bite force.

And two, the quadrate, a bone which serves as a hinge for the jaw and a part of the ear canal, shows traits associated with transitional mosasaurs. The bone is like basal forms such as *Clidastes*, but also forms a bridge to more evolved forms like the later *Proganthodon*.

*Gnathomortis* had jaws which were 1.2 meters (4 feet) long, giving the genus the name *Gnathomortis* ("jaws of death").

## Classification

*Gnathomortis* used to belong to the genus *Prognathodon*, under the same species name. When *Proganthodon* phylogenetic placement was re-assesed in 2006 by Schulp et al., the team determined that *P. stadmani* formed a separate clade, whereas the other six nominal and informal species formed the same clade. This outcome prompts paleontologist Joshua Lively to further study the (now doubted) species. He further determines that *P. stadmani* should be moved to a new genus, later named *Gnathomortis*. The research paper detailing the reclassification of *P. stadmani* was released in 2020.

## References

* https://phys.org/news/2020-09-jaws-death-paleontologist-renames-giant.html
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prognathodon#Disputed\_and\_former\_species
Endeiolepis

Credit: Liliensternus on DeviantArt.

*Endeiolepis* is an extinct genus of jawless fish that lived during the Late Devonian.

## Description

*Endeiolepis* is known for their gill pouches, which are abnormally large like modern lampreys. *Endeiolepis* is very similar to *Euphanerops*, except for an elongated series of scales that for a protuberance on the ventral side. Scientists note that *Endeiolepis*'s tail is very heterocercal.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endeiolepis
Frenchman Caenagnathid

RSM P2161.1.

The Frenchman Caenagnathid is an unnamed genus of Oviraptorosaur That lived in Canada during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

The taxon is known from CMN 346, CMN 8504, RSM P2161.1, and TMM 41395-1, which despite having no overlapping elements were placed in the same taxon. CMN 8504 was described by Gilmore (1924), which were distinct from what was known at that time. This specimen might be referable to *Chirostenotes* or Dromeosauridae. CMN 346 and TMM 41395-1 were described by Bell as cf. *Anzu*, but the morphology of the unguals may warrant it's own species or genus. RSM P2161.1 was decribed by Funston et al. as *Leptorhynchos* sp., but the specimen is more similar to, although distinct from *Chirostenotes* or *Caenagnathus*. Until more substantial material is recovered it is unknown if these bones belong to the same taxon or represent several species.

## References

* https://theropoddatabase.com/Oviraptorosauria.htm#Oviraptorosauria
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frenchman\_Formation
Homopithecus

Frontal bone of a Sri Lankan Homo sapiens, being one of the oldest known in that country.

## Statistics

### Synonyms

*Homo sinhaleyus*
*Pithecanthropus sinhaleyus*
*Homo sapiens*
Bovinae/Suidae

### Diet

Herbivorous

*Homopithecus* is a dubious genus of hominid/suid/bovine that lived in Sri Lanka during the Middle/Late Pleistocene.

## History

*Homopithecus* or *Homo sinhaleyus* were erected based on tooth remains from Balahapava (Register Number F 389) and Lindagava (Register Number F 558), both held in the Ratnapura Museum. Balahapava was discovered by V. Piyasena of Muvaganna near Kalu River 3.2 kilometers from Ratnapura. He sold it to P.E.P. Deraniyagala, who thought it was an upper left central incisor of a hominid. It was incomplete, coloured black and found 5.5 meters deep in sediment with associated *Hexoprotodon* [sic], *Rhinoceros*, *Elephas*, *Bibos*, *Axis* and *Rusa* fossils. Deraniyagala (1963a) suggested that it belonged to the terminal Middle Pleistocene that belonged to a new genus (*Homopithecus*), which was near-associated with a rock crystalline Ratnapura culture scraper. The Lindagava distal premolar enamel crown was discovered by workmen (between 1960-1963) 1.2 kilometers upstream from Balahapava in a gem pit 4.57 meters deep in black gem sands. Deraniyagala acquired it, noting an associated fauna of *Leo*, *Rhinoceros*, *Hexoprotodon* [sic] and *Bibos*. In 1965. Deraniyagala deemed the teeth were able to be linked to anatomically modern *Homo sapiens* remains from Sri Lanka and the Ratnapura culture, using the name *Homo sinhaleyus*.

## Description

The Balahapava tooth belonged to a large individual, with a mesiodistal length of 13.5 millimeters, a labial enamel height of 15 millimeters and a deep depression on the lingual surface. This Seth (1993) to conclude that it possibly belonged to a gaur rather than a hominid. The Lindagava tooth was also examined by Seth (1993), determined to be of a suid based on the bunodont patterning typical of hominids. Before reexamination, they were deemed comparable to "Pithecanthropidae", which created the name *Pithecanthropus sinhaleyus*. Deraniyagala (1965) diagnosed *Homo sinhaleyus* as having a brow 40 millimeters wide and 16-17 thick, small orbits and a differently shaped brow (using Register Number F 228). This is not accepted today.

## References

* https://books.google.ca/books?id=8dnBVDUSIxsC&dq=Balahapuva&source=gbs\_navlinks\_s
* https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/3cae023d-d30f-400c-ad0e-e43e0f443c97/content
* https://telibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Upper-Pleistocene-Fossil-Hominids-From-Sri-Lanka.pdf
* https://www.jstor.org/stable/45377705
* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/displayCollResults?taxon\_no=43222&max\_interval=Quaternary&country=Sri%20Lanka&is\_real\_user=1&basic=yes&type=view&match\_subgenera=1
Helianthus diffusus

Credit: Alamy.

*Helianthus diffusus* is an extinct species of flower that lived in Missouri.

## References

1. ↑ http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/gcc-112977
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helianthus
3. ↑ https://www.alamy.com/stock-image-sunflower-helianthus-diffusus-extinct-handcoloured-copperplate-engraving-165847966.html
4. ↑ https://www.mindat.org/taxon-7923646.html
5. ↑ https://www.compositae.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1106069
6. ↑ http://www.plantillustrations.org/illustration.php?id\_illustration=8973&SID=rt63s7qstst9v009d9786tgfd0&mobile=0&size=0&uhd=0
Malawisaurus

Credit: Pedro Salas.

*Malawisaurus* is an extinct genus of titanosaur that lived in Africa during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

In terms of titanosaurs, *Malawisaurus* was relatively small, being 16 meters (52 feet) long and 10 tonnes (11 short tons) heavy. Like other titanosaurs, ossicle bones have been uncovered, which are thought to be dermal scutes on the skin. The middle of the tail had elongated centra, and vertebral lateral fossae with deep depressions.

Similar vertebral features are shared by *Saltasaurus*, *Alamosaurus*, *Aeolosaurus* and *Gondwanatitan*.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malawisaurus
Hyperodapedon

Credit: PrehistoryByLiam on DeviantArt.

*Hyperodapedon* is an extinct genus of rhynchosaurid that lived in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas during the Late Triassic.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperodapedon
* https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/610506/dinosaurs-rediscovered-by-benton-michael-j/9780500295533
HPG-15-1

HPG-15-1 is an unnamed genus of enantiornithes that lived in Europe during the Cretaceous.

## Description

HPG-15-1 is known from a single specimen in Burmese amber. The amber is quite foggy, and encases many plants, dirt and air bubbles alongside the avialan. The individual is incomplete and a juvenile.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enantiornithes#Dubious\_genera\_and\_notable\_unnamed\_specimens
Eoconstrictor

*Eoconstrictor* is an extinct genus of boid snake that lived in Germany during the Eocene.

## Description

*Eoconstrictor* is known from several specimens preserving most of the body, skeleton and skin impressions. In 2020, *Palaeopython fisheri* was made synonymous with *Eoconstrictor*. GMH-LIX-3-1992 and GMH-XXXVIII-20-1964, articulate skeletons from Geiseltal, Messel Pit represent a new unnamed *Eoconstrictor* species. When closely studied, they revealed a general booid morphology assignable to *Eoconstrictor*. Differences amongst the specimens themselves may be resolved via ontogeny; nonetheless, they sit very close to *E. fischeri*. In August 2021, the name *E. spinifer* was combined from Geiseltal due to a reexamination, new cranial material and a new lectotype designation.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eoconstrictor
* https://vertpaleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SVP\_2021\_VirtualBook\_final.pdf
* https://sjpp.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13358-021-00224-0
Glyptodontopelta

Credit: Jack Wood.

*Glyptodontopelta* is an extinct genus of nodosaur that lived in New Mexico during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Glyptodontopelta* is known from a single piece of pelvic armor. Analysis on the armor of *Glyptodontopelta*, especially on the size and osteoderm position, show that *Glyptodontopelta* was a different genus of nodosaur. In 2004, the genus was considered dubious after studies, but reverted in 2008 because of the distinguished armor. *Edmontonia australis* is now considered synonymous with *Glyptodontopelta*, and the *Edmontonia* genus due to armor size and shape.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyptodontopelta
Hydrochoerus gaylordi

*Hydrochoerus gaylordi* is an extinct species of capybara that lived in Grenada during the Pliocene.

## History

The remains were found by Ronald Singer et al. in 1991, and possibly named in 2000. The species epithet is a reference to singer Joseph Gaylord.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrochoerus\_gaylordi
* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=317892
Grallator

*Grallator* is an extinct ichnogenus of theropod dinosaur that lived in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil and China from the Early Triassic to the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

Fossils of *Grallator* are only known from footprints, and are hard to match the exact genus they belonged to. Scientists can narrow down the possible track makers, like *Caudipteryx*, and are very similar to *Coelophysis*. *Grallator* can easily be mistaken with the other ichnogenus, *Atreipus*. Thought the prints only show three toes, scientists think that the animal had between four and five toes.

## Paleobiology

*Grallator*-like tracks from the Early Triassic through Early Cretaceous are known, as well as occurrences in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil and China. They are most found on the east coast of North America in the Triassic and Early Jurassic from the northern part of the Newark Supergroup. The most famous prints are from this group, and were made by an unidentified theropod similar to *Coelophysis*. The tracks from this site show digits II, III and IV, but have none for I and V, which would have likely been seen in a taxon of this type. The outer two digits would have been stubby and thus ineffective in walking, as they did not contact the ground; despite losing this, it shows that dinosaurs had not yet removed these digits to streamline the foot. Digits II, III, IV have 3-4-5 phalanges, making a ?-3-4-5-? formula. Although the Newark theropods were made by a biped saurischian, they are easily mistakable for *Atreipus*, a quadruped ornithischian. This suggests that these two groups had not yet evolved a differing pedal structure, as seen in advanced forms. In January 2021, Richard Wilder and four-year-old Lily found tracks in Bendricks Bay at the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales while walking. These trackmakers were 75 centimeters tall and 2.5 meters (~8 feet) long bipeds. these were very well preserved. The Early Cretaceous Louhe Formation of China bears evidence of cf. *Grallator* (small theropods) in a cold high-altitude, permafrost environment that bore sand dunes, deserted land and lakes.

## Species

* *G. andeolensis*
* *G. angustidigitus*
* *G. anserinum*
* *G. crassidigitus*
* *G. cursorius*
* *G. damanei*
* *G. deambulator*
* *G. digitigradus*
* *G. emeiensis*
* *G. graciosus*
* *G. lacunensis*
* *G. lambereshei*
* *G. leribeensis*
* *G. lescurei*
* *G. limnosus*
* *G. limosus*
* *G. matsiengensis*
* *G. maximus*
* *G. minimus*
* *G. minor*
* *G. mokanametsongensis*
* *G. molapoi*
* *G. morijensis*
* *G. moshoeshoei*
* *G. olonensis*
* *G. palustris*
* *G. pingchuanensis*
* *G. princeps*
* *G. rapidus*
* *G. rectilineus*
* *G. rectus*
* *G. sauclierensis*
* *G. socialis*
* *G. ssatoi*
* *G. tenuis*
* *G. tuberosus*
* *G. variabilis*
* *G. yangi*
* *G. yemiaoxiensis*

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grallator
* Paul, G.S. (1988). Predatory Dinosaurs of the World
* https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987120302176
* https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-35676-6
Epicyon

Credit: Roman Uchytel.

*Epicyon* is an extinct genus of canid that lived in North America from the Early to the Late Miocene.

## Description

The skull of *Epicyon* had a strong jaw and crushing teeth, however, the skull was more equivalent to a lions.

## Classification

*Epicyon* being one of the largest wolves in Borophaginae, lived with *Borophagus*, *Carpocyon*, *Paratomarctus*, *Aelurodon* and *Canis lepophagus*. *Epicyon* was one of the last canids of its kind.
Hippocampus slovenicus

H. sarmaticus (larger) compared with H. slovenicus (smaller). Credit: Avancna.

*Hippocampus slovenicus* is an extinct species of seahore that lived in Slovenia during the Middle Miocene.

## Description

*Hippocampus slovenicus* lived in Slovenia along with *H. sarmaticus* in the Middle Miocene during the Low Sarmatian, 13 million years ago. The animal was discovered alongside *H. sarmaticus*. All of the specimens consist or a head, backbone and other miscellaneous parts. *H. slovenicus* lived in the coastal Paratethys ocean in seagrass and microalgae. It is one of the coprolitic horizon Tunjice hills Lagerstätten taxa, discovered in 2005 and named by Žalohar, Hiti and Križnar in 2009.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocampus\_slovenicus
Eubrontes

*Eubrontes* is an extinct ichnogenus of theropod dinosaur that lived in North America, Europe and Australia during the Early Jurassic.

## Description

*Eubrontes* tracks were some of the first dinosaur footprints found in North America. They were originally thought to have been made by large birds. *Eubrontes* had sharp claws, and bulky feet.

Some dinosaurs thought to have made the tracks are: *Dilophosaurus*, *Teratosaurus*, *Podokesaurus*, or some type plateosaur. Nearly 600 prints have been found in an area now called Dinosaur State Park. Another set of tracks closely matches the paws of *Sinosaurus triassicus*.

Eubrontes is the state fossil of Connecticut.

## Paleobiology

Tracks were described from the Stormberg Group in 2023.

## Species

* *E. expansus*
* *E. fieldi*
* *E. giganteus*
* *E. glenrosensis*
* *E. lyellii*
* *E. monax*
* *E. pareschequier*
* *E. platypus*
* *E. sillimani*
* *E. veillonensis*
* *E. xiyangensis*
* *E. zigongensis*
* *E. (Brontozuom) isodactylum*
* *E. (Brontozuom) thianschanicum*

## Synonyms

* *Amblonyx*
* *Amblyonyx*
* *Anchisauripus (Otouphepus)*
* *Brontozoum*
* *Chonglongpus*
* *Fulicopus*
* *Gigadipus*
* *Gigandipus*
* *Gigantitherium*
* *Hyphepus*
* *Megaichnites*
* *Otouphebus*
* *Otouphepus*
* *Paracoelurosaurichnus*
* *Tuojiangpus*
* *Weiyuanpus*
* *Youngichnus*
* *Zizhongpus*

## Classification

*Grallator*, *Brontozuom*, *Ichnites* and *Ornithichnites* are all subgenera of *Eubrontes*.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eubrontes
* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=66094
* https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2023.2221306
Herpestes lemanensis

*Herpestes lemanensis* is an extinct species of herpestid feliform that lived in France during the Cenozoic.

## Description

The species was named by Auguste Pomel in 1853 from Loire Valley. The size of specimens is known to vary greatly, with the largest being as big as a large Indian civet. *H. lemanensis* has dentition more akin to the Indian grey mongoose. Additionally, the mandible and teeth are said to be similar to "*H. griseus*" (name no-longer considered valid), with a ramus deeper and more convex inferiorly. This species may be related to larger African forms. Sources are unreliable in terms of dating, with some saying Late Oligocene, and others the Early Miocene

## References

1. ↑ https://books.google.ca/books?id=VHixuAEACAAJ&pg=PA64&redir\_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
2. ↑ https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k97953010/f67.item.texteImage
3. ↑ https://www.gbif.org/species/9124135
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://archive.org/details/catalogueoffossi05brit/page/317/mode/1up
5. ↑ https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k97953010/f67.item.texteImage
Hypselephas

Credit: Vladimir Gorodnjanski.

*Hypselephas* is a dubious genus of elephant that lived in India during the Miocene to the Pliocene.

## Description

*Hypselephas* is now recognized as a synonym for *Elephas hysudricus*, another elephant discovered in India. *Hypselephas*' tusks are slightly curved, but not as curved as modern Asian elephants. *Hypselephas* is known from a mandible and teeth. *Hypselephas* may revolve around *Primelephas* taxonomically.

## References

* https://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/11079872
* https://www.donsmaps.com/bcmammoth.html
Garjainia

Credit: Mark Witton.

*Garjainia* is an extinct genus of erythrosuchid archosauriform reptile that lived in Russia and South Africa during the Early Triassic.

## History

The genus contained two species, *Garjainia prima* from the Yarengian Formation Russia (the type), and *Garjainia madiba* from the Burgersdorp Formation (*Cynognathus* Assemblage Zone A) of South Africa . *Garjiania triplicostata* is known from Russian archosaur remains, and is synonymous with *G. prima*.  The type was discovered in a small Russian village by a farmer at an unknown date believed to have occurred during the early 1950s. About a decade later, the second species was discovered from South Africa. Originally described by the Soviet researcher V.G. Oteschev and placed in a Garjainidae, Tatarinov later suggested that it and *Erythrosuchus*  should be synonymous, though this has since been rejected. Basal characters suggest that it may be transition to Proterosuchidae.

## Description

These carnivorous reptiles were approximately 1.50 to 2 m (5 to 6 feet 8 inches) long.  Apart from being smaller, it is quite similar to *Erythrosuchus*. Like this genus, the skull was very large and robust, with a strong mandible and recurved teeth. The snout was high and narrow, with short and sturdy legs and a reduced tail. The humerus is extremely massive, the shoulder blade is shaped like an hourglass and the elongated dorsal ribs, all together, give *Garjainia* a high profile. *G. madiba* differs from the type based on large protuberances on the lateral of the jugal and postorbitals. It also has more teeth, an elongated postacetabular process of the ilium and bosses—which were previously unknown in erythrosuchids and may have been present due to maturity or sexual maturity, though this is debatable and are considered autapomorphous of the genus.

## References

1. ↑ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0111154
2. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/november/dragon-like-reptiles-with-huge-heads-and-steak-knife-teeth.html
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garjainia
4. ↑ https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-abstract/185/3/717/5231795?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Lance azhdarchid

The Lance azhdarchid (sometimes called cf. *Azhdarcho*) is an unnamed genus of azhdarchid that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

The presence of thin-walled pterosaur bones from the Lance Formation was once assigned to cf. *Azhdarcho*, where it was used to compare Maastrichtian western North American and central Asian fauna commonalities. However, they are now thought to be of a different genus.

## References

https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Pterosaurs/WJTuAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0&bsq=isbn:013146308X
Garrigatitan

Credit: Cisiopurple on DeviantArt.

*Garrigatitan* is an extinct genus of titanosaur that lived in France during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Garrigatitan* fossil are found in sequence two French bonebed site Velaux-La Bastide Neuve in the Aix-en Provence Basin. The as semblance is mainly dinosaurs, such as fellow titanosaur *Atsinganosaurus*. It is distinguished from other remains by three prominent autapomorphies: an hourglass-shaped humerus (with proximal and distal thirds having nearly the same transversal width) in the anterior and posterior view, an ilium with a broad and rounded hollow posterior to the base of the pubic peduncle and a proximolateral margin of the femur that slightly medially deflects. *Garrigatitan* was a small/medium-sized titanosaur, which was about 4-6 meters long and 2-2.5 tonnes heavy at the subadult stage. Adults were likely about 12 meters long. All the latter features are not shred with any of it's contemporaries. Analysis on the animals remains shows the individual had reached maturity before death.

## References

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2020.1841184
Fukuivenator

Credit: Gabriel Ugueto.

*Fukuivenator* is a genus of basal therizinosaurian dinosaur that lived in Japan during the Early Cretaceous.

## History

*F. paradoxus* was named by Yoichi Azuma, Xu Xing, Masateru Shibata, Soichiro Kawabe, Kazunori Miyata and Takuya Imai (2016) referencing the Fukui Prefecture and Latin venator. The epithet references the strange combination of characters observed. FPDM-V8461 is the holotype, found in August 2007 in the ~Barremian/Aptian-aged Kitadani Formation. Radiometric dating finds an age of ~127-115 million years ago. The holotype consists of a partial skeleton and skull, being one of the most complete non-avian dinosaur from Japan, including ~160 bones and fragments were found disarticulated in an area of 50x50 centimeters. It was described as a dromaeosaur before being reclassified as a therizinosaurian.

## Description

   The teeth in the front of the premaxilla, unserrated and recurved teeth in the maxillae and a long neck fit with elongate vertebrae are distinctive traits. It bears a mosaic of primitive and advanced coelurosaurian characters, with a phylogenetic analysis inserting into a basal unresolved maniraptoriformes position. Dromaeosaurid similarities appear to be convergent evolution. Since it has unserrated heterodont teeth with the foremost likely having flattened outer edges, it has been suggested *Fukuivenator* was herbivorous or omnivorous. A 2022 monograph suggests that *Fukuivenator* is a basal therizinosaurian.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukuivenator
* https://www.dinosaur.pref.fukui.jp/archive/memoir/memoir020-001.pdf]]
Extinct Hominid 2

B) showing phylogenetic relations indicated by a brown circle and a '4', and C) showing migratory routes, with the same symbol indicating EH2.

## Statistics

### Diet

Omnivorous

Extinct Hominid 2 (EH2) is an unnamed species of hominin that lived in Flores from the Middle to Late Pleistocene.

## History

This species was first identified by Teixeira and Cooper (2019) during a genetics study that identified a seemingly distinct Asian lineage that had evolved 600,000 years ago (from a concestor that also speciated into the Extinct Hominid 1 lineage) and is detected only on Flores.

## Classification

This species likely crossed the Wallace Line, possibly representing *Homo floresiensis* or a new species. Regardless, this pulse may resolve issues with the latter species, whether it is a habiline or an erectine. However, further work is required to determine what this lineage is, but has seemingly been determined to be distinct from EH1. These species may have had a similar divergence about 600,000 years ago. It was hypothesized that interbreeding on Flores with ancestral (current) indigenous populations and *Homo floresiensis* that produced a new species. These same indigenous populations are the only people to have this genetic pulse. They find:

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://peerj.com/preprints/27526.pdf
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIX14fYKlR0&t=3021s&ab\_channel=ThroughTimeAndClades
Magulodon

Credit: Jack Wood.

"Magulodon" is a naked genus of ornithischian, ornithopod or ceratopsian dinosaur that lived in Maryland during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

Kranz (1996) coined the informal type species based on a single tooth. One paper classifies it simply as indeterminate, disusing the name to avoid taxonomic clutter.

## References

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

Credit: Nobu Tamura.

*Icadyptes* is an extinct genus of penguin that lived in South America during the Late Eocene.

## Description

*Icadyptes* is the third largest penguin described. The animal bears a long, heron-like beak. *Icadyptes* was adapted to thrive in warmer climates. This challenges the theory that penguins evolved at the polls and gradually moved inwards. Instead, penguins are now believed to have adapted to warm climates 30 million years before the previous theory.
Megaloceros

Credit: Midiaou Diallo.

*Megaloceros*, or known as the Irish Elk (*M. giganteus*), is an extinct genus of deer that lived throughout Eurasia from the Early Pleistocene to the Holocene.

## Description

*Megaloceros* lived in open woodlands and was a fundamental part of the Ice Age ecosystems. Female individuals likely lacked the horns that males had. *Megaloceros* was well adapted to running, a trait not known in current deer. From the genus *Candiacervus* (another smaller deer in the same area), *C. rhopalophorus*, is often referred to as a a subgenus of *Megaloceros*.

## Species

* *M. antecedens*
* *M. giganteus*
* *M. luochuanensis*
* *M. matritensis*
* *M. novocarthaginiensis*
* *M. savini*

## Subgenera

* *Candiacervus*?
* *Cervavitus*?
* *Orchonoceros*?
* *Praemegaceros*?
* *Praesinomegaceros*?
* *Sinomegaceros*?

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megaloceros
Kaiparowits Caiman

The Kaiparowits Caiman is an unnamed species of Caiman that lived during in the Kaiparowits formation during the Late Cretaceous.

## Paleoecology

It represents the oldest caiman on record. It would have shared it's habitat with 7 species of aquatic suchians, 5 of them being unnamed new species, or genera.

## References

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NguZJ3QSPh4&t=2337s
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiparowits\_Formation
* https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02724634.2004.10010643