recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Furca

*Furca* is an extinct genus of marrellomorph arthropod that lived in Czech Republic and Morocco during the Late Ordovician.

## Description

*Furca* is characterized by a broad head shield with three prominent spine pairs: an anterolateral, mediolateral and posterolateral. This shield is about 21-31 millimeters (0.83-1.22 inches) long and 18-29 millimeters (0.71-1.14 inches) wide. Mediolateral spines are elongate and hook strongly. The head shield's outline contains a small fringe of proportionally smaller but curving fringed secondary spines 1.5-7 millimeters (0.059-0.276 inches) long. Based on material, appendages are unknown, speculative if added.

## Paleobiology

Fossilized *Furca* are found in sediments thought to have been shallow marine deposits. The biology of this genus is unknown because all other body parts are currently unknown. Comparisons from other marrellomorphs lead scientists to believe *Furca* was similar to a horseshoe crab, suggesting a benthic marine life.

## Classification

*Furca* lies in Mimetasteridae within Marrellomorpha. It is named after the Lower Devonian *Mimetaster*. The Burgess Shale *Marrella* and rarer *Vachonisia* and *Xylokorys* are considered distantly-related to *Furca*.

## History

Since discovery by Joachim Barrande, *Furca* has had a long history due it's strangeness. He named the remains *Furca bohemica* (Bohemian fork), but did not publish the findings. In 1847, they were illustrated for the first time, interpreted as a hypostome of the trilobite genus *Prionocheilus*. Antonin Fritsch was the first to publish *Furca* as distinct, this time as a larval echinoderm in 1908. But in 1919, the fossil was interpreted as an arthropod for the first time. In 1999, *F. pilosa* was named, with an *F. sp*. noted by Chlupáč in the same paper. Rak et al. in 2013 states that all previously-named species may be synonymous with *F. bohemica*. From a doctorial thesis in 2006, "*F. mauretanica*" was proposed from the Floian Fezouata Formation, Morocco. It "probably belongs [original: belonging] to the genus *Furca*". However, it has not been published and remains a nomen nudum.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furca\_(genus)
Hylopus

*Hylopus* is an extinct ichnogenus of anthracosaur that lived in North America sometime during the Carboniferous.

## Species

* *H. hermitanus*
* *H. hardingi*
* *H. logani*
* *H. variabilis*
* *H. minor*

## References

http://fossilworks.org/?a=taxonInfo&taxon\_no=328582

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/Prof\_P\_Getty/status/1263825209771130880
Famiglia de Paleosauri archosaur

The fossil pictured at "half the natural size", as stated in the figure.

The Famiglia de Paleosauri ("Family of Paleosaurs") archosaur is an extinct genus of small indeterminate archosaur that may ahve lived in England.

## History

The specimen first appeared as illustrated by Carlo Cattaneo in the first issue of "Il Politecnico". It is often referred to as being mistaken by authors as part of the invalid tooth genus *Palaeosaurus*, but the original caption stated that the fossil was part of the "Famiglia de Paleosauri", meaning that authors believed that the specimen was closely related to that genus but was not referred. However, it is likely to be an independent species, but the specimen was lost and is now considered an indeterminate archosaur. It is likely from England because *Palaeosaurus* is from there.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeosaurus
Elopteryx

FGGUB R.1957.

*Elopteryx* is a dubious genus of theropod dinosaurs that lived in Europe during the late Cretaceous.

## History

The holotype of *Elopteryx* was discovered by Franz Nopsca in Transylvania, Romania sometime between the late nineteenth century and 1913. It, along with a few other bones were transferred to the Natural History Museum London (NHMUK, formerly BMNH) and described by Charles Andrews in 1913.

In 1992, Annie Méchin-Salessy and Patrick Méchin discovered additional theropod remains in the Campanian to Maastrichtian Grès à Reptiles Formation in Southern France. These were initially referred to *Elopteryx* but later described as their own genus, *Variraptor.*

## Taxonomy

*Elopteryx* is a *nomen dubium* as its holotype and referred specimen are fragmentary and do not have diagnostic traits. The diagnostic material from France has since been described as a separate genus, and the original Romanian material is likely from a distinct genus.

The holotype and referred specimen of *Elopteryx* possibly come from a troodontid.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elopteryx
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Variraptor
Herisphaera

H. triangula (L-N) and H. arbovela (O-Q).

*Herisphaera* is an extinct genus of spiny acritarch that lived in the Canadian Arctic during the Neoproterozoic.

## Etymology

*Herisphaera* was coined in 2019 among many other microfosil taxa, *H. arbovela* was made the type. Arbovela derives from the Latin arbor, meaning "mast", and vela, meaning "sails", due to a thin organic matric resembling a boat' mast. The genus means "her sphere" because it is spiny. *Triangula* refers to the triangular processes.

## Description

*H. arbovela* is known from 74638-N52,3 of sample 15RAT-T17 and *H. triangula* is known from 74641-U40,4 of sample 15RAT-021A1. The small spheroidal or subspheroidal vesicles bear conical hollow formations, which communicate with the vesicle's interior. These are evenly distributed on the surface. A membrane could reach between the processes, which may form a reticulate pattern on the surface. The excystment mechanisms may be present.

## References

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030192681830216X?via%3Dihub
Eogeometer

*Eogeometer* is an extinct genus of geometer moth caterpillars that lived during the Eocene in Europe.

## Description

*Eogeometer* is the first moth caterpillar found in Baltic amber. *Eogeometer* is 5 millimeters long and not fully grown. Since *Eogeometer* is a juvenile/larva, it is impossible to tell if this genus is synonymous with another genus, or is an entirely new genus.
Hauffiopteryx

Credit: John Sibbick.

*Hauffiopteryx* is an extinct genus of ichthyosaur that lived in Europe during the Early Jurassic.

## Description

*Hauffiopteryx* was first thought to have belonged to the genus *Stenopterygius*, later given a new genus name. *Hauffiopteryx* is known from many skeletons, some preserving soft tissues.

## Notable Specimens

* GPIT 1491/4: The lectotype preserving soft tissue and a fully articulated skeleton.
* SMNS 81965: A poorly preserved Hauffiopteryx.

## References

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

http://novataxa.blogspot.com/2020/07/hauffiopteryx.html
Glesoconomorphus

A specimen being sold on an amber shopping website ID-ed as a probable Glesoconomorphus specimen.

## Statistics

### Diet

Herbivorous

*Glesoconomorphus* is an extinct genus of mycterid beetle that lived in Europe.

## Description

*Glesoconomorphus* is known from multiple specimens, which are adults. Only one specimen is known scientifically, though more exist.

## References

* https://eol.org/pages/55812937/data

* https://www.mindat.org/taxon-P384351.html
Hasandong Boreopterid

Credit: Brennan Stokkermans.

The Hasandong Boreopterid is a newly discovered, undescribed genus of pterosaur that lived in South Korea during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

The remains of a fragmented wing one 20 centimeters long. Studies conducted on the second phalanx say that this pterosaur was a boreopterid. Scientists compared the size with that of the similar pterosaur *Zhenyuanopterus*, and concluded it had a wingspan of about 4.3 meters. This animal is the first boreopterid out side of China's Liaoning Formation.

## Paleoecology

The Hasandong Boreopterid likely used its large teeth to spear and hold on to prey. This pterosaur fed on invertebrates and fish.

## References

https://www.pteros.com/pterosaurs/hasandong-boreopterid.html
Hindeodus

*Hindeodus* is an extinct genus of conodont that lived during the Late Permian/Early Triassic worldwide.

## Description

*Hindeodus* is a small conodont that has many rows of small, sharp teeth and a thin, fin-less body with a small tail fluke. *Hindeodus* is a popular index fossil and was so resilient to the forces that it survived the Permian/Triassic extinction event, which killed over 90% of all life forms. Most *Hindeodus* species evolved from H. *typicalis* and *H.n.sp B.* The genus *Isarcicella* also most likely evolved from *H. parvus.*

## Species

* *H. capitanensis*
* *H. cristulus*
* *H. gulloides*
* *H. parvus*
* *H. permicus*
* *H. wordensis*
* *H. typicalis*
* *H. priscus*
* *H. eurypyge*
* *H. changxingensis*
* *H.infaltus*
* *H. julfenis*
* *H.n.sp.B*
Deinonychus

Credit: Fred Wierum.

*Deinonychus* is an extinct genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur that lived in North America during the Early Cretaceous.

## History

A partial skeleton of Deinonychus consisting of 126 preserved elements nicknamed "Hector" was auctioned for $17.9 million, after being put on exhibition at the Natural History Museum of Denmark from 2020-2021. It was discovered on private land at Wolf Creek and excavated by Jack and Roberta Owen, self-taught paleontologists.

## Description

*Deinonychus* had two sickle claws that were used to puncture the skin of other animals when flicked up and down. Deinonychus is one of the largest dromaeosaurs, with *Dakotaraptor* and *Utahraptor*. *Deinonychus* was likely a pack hunter, using its strength in numbers to take down larger prey items. The discovery of *Deinonychus* revolutionized paleontology, proposing the theory of feathers in dinosaurs and how birds and dinosaurs are related.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinonychus
* https://twitter.com/Dino\_Dobrowski/status/1494660452558770176/photo/2
* https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-14/skeleton-of-dinosaur-inspired-jurassic-parks-velociraptor-sold/101067204
Hironosaurus

Credit: José Carlos Cortés.

Hironosaurus is a naked genus of hadrosaurid dinosaur that lived in Japan during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

Hironosaurus was likely a hadrosaur, with no additional subfamily assigned. The fragmentary remains consist of teeth and a vertebra (prossibly from the tail). Since they were never fully described, it remains a nomen nudum. Hisa (1988) mentioned it in an obscure publication. David Lambert, Dong Zhiming, Y. Hasegawa and Y. Azuma (1990) brought the name to a wider audience by regarding it as hadrosaurid, but lacking characters to assign it to a more precise classification; it was thus considered indeterminate.

## References

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

Juvenile.

*Formicodiplogaster* is an extinct genus of nematode that lived in the Caribbean during the Early Miocene.

## Description

*Formicodiplogaster* is known from about seven specimens, all being inclusions in clear Dominican amber with ant species. The amber was created by the tree genus Hymenaea, which had extinct species that grew in and around the Caribbean. Every specimen was recovered from quarries in the Cordillera Septentrional mountain range. The holotype specimen is in its dauer stage, including the paratype in its larvae stage, and several adults and juvenile specimens. Segments of fossilized ant nests show that *Formicodiplogaster* often associated with the genus Azteca, having both adult and juvenile stages present, even in phoretic circumstances. *Formicodiplogaster* in their dauer stage may have been carried in the ants abdominal intersegment membranes. This process may have been a result of deteriorating conditions in ant colonies during the time. No evidence of *Formicodiplogaster* living in the ants postpharyngeal glands/head glands is present. Adults have rounded heads, tails that point at their ends and lips which are not offset. Dauer stages are around 120-208 micrometers (0.0047-0.0082 inches) long, and are relatively the same shape.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formicodiplogaster
Frilled shark

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

## Statistics

### Diet

Carnivorous

*Chlamydoselachus*, known as frilled sharks, is a genus of shark that has lived in Africa since the Cretaceous.

## Description

*Chlamydoselachus* have slim and long bodies, with gaping jaws filled with tiny teeth. *Chlamydoselachus* have five fins, and a tail fluke, and usually live in deep water. Sometimes at night, frilled sharks rise to the surface of the water in search of food. If they do not return to deep water before the sun rises, they will die due to the heat and sunlight.

Some species of *Chlamydoselachus*, like the previously-assigned *C. goliath* (now *Rolfodon goliath*), lived during the Cretaceous. *C. goliath* was nearly 6 meters long. Only two species of *Chlamydoselachus* are extant: *C. africana* and *C. anguineus*.

## Species

* *C. africana*
* *C. anguineus*
* †*C. garmani*
* †*C. gracilis*
* †*C. keyesi*
* †*C. landinii*
* †*C. lawleyi*
* †*C. thomsoni*
* †*C. tobleri*

### Reassigned Species

* †*C. tatere*
* †*C. goliath*
* †*C. bracheri*
* †*C. fiedleri*

## References

* https://www.deviantart.com/hodarinundu/art/Chlamydoselachus-goliath-713100860
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamydoselachus
Haboroteuthis

An extremely speculative Haboroteuthis attacking a theropod dinosaur on a shoreline. Credit: Hodari Nundu on DeviantArt.

## Statistics

### Diet

Carnivorous

*Haboroteuthis* is an extinct genus of incertae sedis squid that lived in Japan during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Haboroteuthis* is known primarily from jaw fossils. Size estimates place *Haboroteuthis* amongst some of the largest squid, like the giant squid or the colossal squid. Based on remains, it is impossible to tell what *Haboroteuthis* may have looked like, and it is in need of more fossils.

## References

* https://www.deviantart.com/hodarinundu/art/It-Came-From-Beneath-The-Sea-787304396
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haboroteuthis
Flagellipinna

Credit: Joschua Knüppe.

*Flagellipinna* is an extinct genus of fish that lived in Lebanon during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Flagellipinna* is characterized by a large diamond-shaped body, large whip-like fins, postcloacal scales with forward-slanting spines and an acute and an anterior profile with a distinct concave shape that gives the fish a hunchbacked appearance. The animal has a prognathous snout lined with teeth, adapted for plucking shelled-animals from small crevices. The smallest known specimen has much larger eye orbits, lacks spines on the contour spines, a poorly ossified skull roof, a notochord sparsely covered in arcocentra and lacks the filament on the large fins. All these traits in the smaller specimen suggests its a juvenile or a subadult. The drastic difference between life stages suggests that there was an ecological niche change during ontogeny. Transitioning between a generalistic foraging fish that lived in complex reefs, to a deeper-diving fish that plucked animals out of the reefs cliffside. These characteristics show the strategies pycnodontiforms exploited to survive.

## References

http://novataxa.blogspot.com/2019/06/flagellipinna.html
Giant Cambridge Iguanodont

The Giant Cambridge Iguanodont is a species of Iguanodontian Ornithischian that lived in England during the Cretaceous.

## Description

The specimen is known from the Cambridge Greensands. The material was discovered by Joe Bonsor and Paul Barret within the collections. The thumb spike of this taxon was estimated by Bonsor to be 7 inches in length. It was also said that this specimen approached the lengths of later Hadrosaurs.

## References

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzI3NjY2Mi9yc3M/episode/N2Y1MDI0YjAtOWZhNS00YzY5LWFkMWItNDA4YTM2OTE1Yjkz?ep=14
Floydus

"Floydus" is a naked genus of rhizodont fish that lived in Iowa during the Late Carboniferous.

## Description

"Floydus" was named in a thesis by Daniel Snyder (2006), erected based on a partially-ossified braincase, enlarged pelvis, an underside sculpted to the postparietals and anteroposterior line enervation of the post parietals and supratemporals; it is considered a nomen nudum today. The genus name means "Floyd", a man's name, with the specific epithet meaning "pink" and the diminutive suffix "ellis". Thus, it means "Pink Floyd", in reference to the band of the same name. It and "Aliuslater" are named after the same rock band. It was found at the Jasper Hiemstra limestone quarry.

## References

https://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1239&context=etd
FMNH PR308

Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

FMNH PR308 is an extinct, possibly unnamed, genus of tyrannosaurid dinosaur that lived in Alberta during the Late Cretaceous.

## History

Brown (1914) collected a near-complete skeleton and skull, with the American Museum of Natural History selling it to the Field Museum of Natural History 40 years later. In Chicago, it was mounted as *Albertosaurus libratus* for a long time, with many parts of the skull found to be modelled from plaster, including most of the teeth. Thomas Carr (1999) reassigned the specimen to *Daspletosaurus torosus*.

## Description

Experts are currently debating if the FMNH PR308 specimen is *Daspletosaurus*, or a new genus. It was labelled as *Gorgosaurus* and is on display in the Dinosaur Park museum, with academic and unofficial rumours spreading, stating it may be a new species or genus. In scientific literature, many classify FMNH PR308 as the "Dinosaur Park taxon" or the "Dinosaur Park tyrannosaurid". *Teratophoneus* differs from *Alioramus*, *Gorgosaurus*, *Albertosaurus*, *Daspletosaurus*, the Two Medicine taxon and FMNH PR308 by having a surangular shelf that overhangs the surangular foramen ventrolaterally. There may be an unprepared chunk of matrix on the pelvis of the mount.

## Notable Specimens

* FMNH PR308 "Gorgeous George": A single specimen of tyrannosauroid. The specimen may represent a new genus, or one already known. Most sources classify it as a species of *Daspletosaurus*, possibly *D. wilsoni* (if it is not merely a sister taxon). The skull of the mount is based on a *Daspletosaurus* (previously *Gorgosaurus* and *Albertosaurus*) specimen known as Gorgeous George, a partial skull with few teeth.

## References

* https://zenodo.org/record/3371479#.YPrAiOhKjIU
* https://extinctmonsters.net/2018/06/11/building-gorgeous-george/
* https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0079420
* https://twitter.com/Bhmllr/status/1496237694451654658

1. ↑ https://peerj.com/articles/14461/
Hastings Group maniraptoran

Credit: Naish and Sweetman (2011).

The Hastings Group maniraptoran, also known as the Ashdown maniraptoran, is an unnamed genus of maniraptoran theropod dinosaur that lived in England during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

This taxon is known only from a single, small cervical vertebrae recovered from the Wealden Group of the Wessex Formation. It is about 7.1 millimeters long, found near Bexhill, East Sussex. This would make the Hastings maniraptor one of the smallest Mesozoic dinosaurs. It was described by Naish and Sweetman (2011).

## References

https://www.palaeocast.com/episode-57-wealden-fossils/
Hell Creek Microraptorian

The Hell Creek microraptorian is a reportedly distinct, unnamed genus of microraptorian theropod dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

This taxon is known from microraptorian-like teeth, a strongly-curved ungual and alleged material. This taxon was also mentioned in an abstract detailing small pre-K/T boundary dinosaurs. This abstract also lists occurrences of troodontids, caenagnathids, alvaresaurids, leptoceratopsids and thescelosaurids. This new taxa, referred to as Microraptorinae (syn. Microraptoria), may have been piscivorous, since it is mentioned in the abstract and morphology/stomach contents from *Microraptor* correspond with this. Additionally, piscivory is present *Richardoestesia*, and with microraptorians resembling this taxa, the Hell Creek microraptorian may just be remains of *Richardoestesia*.

According to Darren Naish, there was, at one point, a conference presentation on this taxon.

## References

1. ↑ http://www.dinochecker.com/dinosaurfaqs/what-is-microraptorinae
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microraptoria
3. ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evo.12119
4. ↑ https://twitter.com/tyrannoraptoran/status/1413237979162705921
5. ↑ https://twitter.com/TetZoo/status/1413233384252452870
Gyracanthus

Credit: Nobu Tamura.

*Gyracanthus* is an extinct genus of spiny shark that lived in North America, Antarctica and Europe during the Carboniferous.

## Description

*Gyracanthus* likely evolved in Antarctica and spread elsewhere. This animal had spines half the size of their body to protect from predators. Several specimens are labelled G. sp., and one is an indeterminate acanthodian that may belong to Gyracanthus. It is known only from isolated spines and shoulders, most very fragmentary.

## Species

* *G. alleni*
* *G. alnwicensis*
* *G. compressus*
* *G. convexus*
* *G. cordatus*
* *G. duplicatus*
* *G. falciformis*
* *G. formosus*
* *G. incurvus*
* *G. inornatus*
* *G. magnificus*
* *G. nobilis*
* *G. obliquus*
* *G. parvulus*
* *G. primaevus*
* *G. rectus*
* *G. rothrocki*
* *G. sarlei*
* *G. sherwoodi*
* *G. tuberculatus*
* *G. youngii*

## References

* Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life, p. 46
* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=34854
* http://www.devoniantimes.org/who/pages/gyracanthus.html
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyracanthus
Guanlong

Credit: Gabriel Ugueto.

*Guanlong* is an extinct genus of proceratosaurid tyrannosauroid that lived in China during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

*Guanlong* is currently represented by two specimens, one adult and another immature. *Guanlong* bore a large curved crest on its head, which was brittle. Unlike the later tyrannosaurs that descended from *Guanlong*, the animal had three digits on each hand. *Guanlong* would have bore a striking resemblance to *Dilong*, likely covered in a coat of primitive feathers, aside from the distinguishing head crest. Thee holotype specimen is a partially complete adult, and the affiliated paratype is an immature, nearly complete and articulate skeleton. The remains of the animal may have been trampled on by another, larger animal, after death. The juvenile's crest is restricted to the forward half of the rostrum, and the adult has a much larger, expansive crest. Both of their crests were thin, likely used as display structures.

## Etymology

*Guanlong* (冠龍) means "crown [冠] dragon [龍]" in Chinese. The species epithet, wucaii (五彩; in Pinyin; wǔcǎi) means "colourful". This refers to both the beds of Wucaiwan and the multi-coloured rock in the badlands in which Guanlong was found.

## Paleobiology

### Ontogeny

Histological analysis shows that the adult matured at age 7, and died at 12, and the immature specimen died at 6, still undergoing growth. The differences between the two individuals crests can be seen. The juvenile's crest is restricted to the lower snout, and the latter is smaller than in the adult. The juveniles eye orbits are larger, the lower long is elongated, the pubic bone has a less-expanded tip and the hands are also proportionally larger. All of these features are present in derived coelurosaurs and tyrannosaurs.

### Crests

*Guanlong* is characterized by the large cranial crest that sat above its snout and curved off between its eyes. The crest was extremely thin and delicate, meaning that such an organ must have only been used for display purposes, and maybe even mating. The structure was likely used like the ones in *Dilophosaurus* and *Monolophosaurus*. Like the latter two, the crest was also highly pneumatized. Unlike other genera, it was more delicate and more elaborate. Guanlong's crest appears to be used for display, while other genera for species recognition.
Giant vampire bat

## Desmodus draculae

Several D. draculae around a giant ground sloth.

The Giant vampire bat (*Desmodus draculae*) is an extinct species of vampire bat that lived in Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Belize, Bolivia and Perú[*citation needed*] (possibly including Ecuador, French Guiana and Guyana) from the Pleistocene to the Holocene.

## History

The first *D. draculae* was found in Cueva del Guácharo, Venezuela by Omar J. Linares (1965). He noted it was a possible Pleistocene Desmodus. In 1988, it was named from Linares' skull and post crania (as the type). It was named *draculae* after "the largest known chiropteran vampire commemorates Count Dracula, the greatest human vampire of folklore" and assigned the genus *Demodus*. Referencing its greater size, it is often called the giant vampire bat.

## Description

*D. draculae* is the largeest known vampire bat. The skull is 31.2 millimeters (1.23 inchs) long and the humerus ~51 millimeters (~2 inches) long. The skull is long and narrow with an upturned snout. Based on cranial dimensions, its wingspan was ~50 centimeters (~20 inches) and was 60 grams (2.1 ounces) in body mass. The proportions are similar to extant smaller megabats or a larger microbat. The braincase was 14.5-14.8 millimeters (0.57-0.58 inches) tall. There is a canine from Holocene-aged Buenos Aires Province, Argentina tentatively assigned to D. draculae.

## Paleoecology

Some think *D. draculae* preyed on megafauna, with others thinking they preyed upon caviomorphs. Other potential prey includes plains viscacha, deer, camelids. *D. draculae* is thought to have gone extinct relatively recently, as some remains were not fossilized. The cause and date are currently unknown. One hypothesis states it was highly specialized on mammalian megafauna, which became extinct during the Quaternary extinction, where *D. draculae* was unable to adapt to smaller prey. Anecdotal reports of large bats preying upon cattle and horses in Brazil are probably first-hand exaggerations of known bats interacting with these animals. D. draculae are known from Mexico, Belize, Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina, from six caves. A discovery of remains in Argentina represents the southernmost by 600 kilometers (370 miles), possibly indicating the region was, at least, 2° Celsius (3.6° Fahrenheit) warmer than present day. Although no fossils communicate this, it may have spanned Ecuador, French Guiana and Guyana. It spanned much of South America. Speculation about *D. draculae* suggests it is a partial inspiration for the Mayan god Camazotz and possibly even the Mura people's Cãoera, a vulture-sized blood-sucking bat.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmodus\_draculae
Eschrichtius

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

## Statistics

### Species

*E. robustus* (gray whale)†*E. akishimaensis*

### Weight

15-33 tons (17-36 short tons)Up to 40 tons (44 short tons)

### Diet

Planktivorous

*Eschrichtius* is a genus of baleen whale that has lived worldwide since the Pliocene.

## Notable Specimens

* "Mystic": A probable gray whale (gray whale) from Santa Cruz. As of 2021, it is still being prepared. The specimen includes thoracic/lumbar vertebrae and ribs. It is held at the Western Science Center.

## Paleoecology

The modern gray whale are known from the western shores of North America; but Quaternary *Eschrichtius* are known from Belgium, Japan, Morroco, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, UK, Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, both Carolinas and Virgina; *Eschrichtius akishimaensis* are known from the Early Pleistocene of Japan; and there are possible Pliocene occurrences of the gray whale in California, Netherlands and South Africa.

## Synonyms

* *Balaena gibbosa*
* *Agaphelus*
* *Rhachianectes*
* *Rachianectes*
* *Rachionectes*
* *E. gibbosus*
* *E. glaucus*
* *E. robusta*
* *E. expansus*
* *E. priscus*
* *E. pusillus*
* *Balaenoptera robusta*
* *Plesiocetus robusta*
* *E. mysticetoides* (=*E. robustus*)

## References

* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=68471
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray\_whale
* https://www.gbif.org/species/8680512
* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=81900
* https://twitter.com/AltonDooley/status/1463685985137410054
Eopauropus

*Eopauropus* is an extinct genus of Middle Eocene pauropod that lived in the Baltic Region.

## Description

*Eopauropus* is one of the only pauropods in the fossil record and is among the only new fossil pauropod genera. It's fossilization in amber is strange, as pauropods normally live in soil.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eopauropus
* https://www.mindat.org/taxon-8561497.html
* https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/pauropoda-14862/
Himeoolithus

Credit: GeologyPage.

*Himeoolithus* is an extinct oogenus of theropod egg that lived in Japan during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Himeoolithus* represent some of the smallest theropod eggs, and may have been laid by a compsognathid or dromaeosaur of some sort. The eggs were mined in The Kamitaki Egg Quarry. *Himeoolithus* are notably elongated in shape, as well as their tiny size. They are from the Ohyamashimo Formation.

## References

* http://www.geologypage.com/2020/06/tiny-japanese-dinosaur-eggs-help-unscramble-cretaceous-ecosystem.html
* https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667120302056
Glisachaemus

*Glisachaemus* is an extinct genus of planthopper that lived in Europe during the Early Eocene.

## Description

*Glisachaemus* is known from a single amber specimen, with various collembola and a parasitic mite on *Glisachaemus*' dorsal surface. Only the right foreleg is missing, and the male individual is in flight position. *Glisachaemus* has several spines missing alongside its body surface.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glisachaemus
Hemipristis

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

## Statistics

### Length

Up to 6 meters (20 feet) in extinct species

### Diet

Carnivorous

*Hemipristis*, known as the snaggletooth or fossil shark in extant species, is a genus of shark that lives offshore of the Americas since the Eocene.

## Description

*Hemipristis* have several teeth in their jaws, the upper acting as knives and the lower as forks. Since the shark is poorly studied, both halves of the jaw have previously been assigned new taxa. Seven extinct species are known, with the largest of the genus being *H. serra*.

## Species

* †*H. curvatus*
* †*H. cyclodonta*
* *H. elongata*
* †*H. heteropleurus*
* †*H. lavigniensis*
* †*H. paucidens*
* †*H. serra* (wolverine shark)
* †*H. wyattdurhami*

## References

* https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon\_no=34646
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemipristis\_serra
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemipristis
* https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Hemipristis-elongata.html#:~:text=Etymology%3A%20Hemipristis%3A%20Greek%2C%20hemi,45335).
Hubbell's white shark

## Carcharodon hubbelli

Hubbell's white shark or the "Sacaco specimen" (*Carcharodon hubbelli*) is an extinct species of shark that lived in Peru, Chile and central California from the Late Miocene.

## History

The species was named after scientist and discoverer Gordon Hubbell, who donated the specimen to the Florida Museum of Natural History for study. The holotype, UF 226255, was known as *Carcharodon* sp. for many years, also referred to as the "Sacaco specimen". Ehret et al. (2012) finally named the species, based on Hubbell since he contributed substantial knowledge to shark paleontology and obtained the holotype from the discoverer (a farmer) in 1988

## Description

Hubbell's white shark marks a transitionary form between the smaller mako and larger great white. Fossil teeth are found in the Pisco formation, Bahia Inglesa Formation and the Purisima formation. In life, they spanned the eastern Pacific. It was originally thought to be Early Pliocene-aged, but calculations by Ehret et al. (2012) show it lived during the Late Miocene, 6-8 million years old. It may have been intermediate between *Carcharodon plicatilis* and the great white shark.

*C. hubbelli* can be identified by their similarity to a great white shark, having weaker serrations that are stronger nearer to the base and taper nearer to the tip. The upper teeth are slightly more narrow than extant *Carcharodon*.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharodon\_hubbelli
* https://www.fossilguy.com/gallery/vert/fish-shark/giant-white/index.htm#hubbelli
Fibulacaris

Credit: Danielle Dufault.

*Fibulacaris* is an extinct genus of hymenocarine that lived in Canada during the Cambrian.

## History

The genus name of *Fibulacaris* is derived from "fibula", a type of Roman brooch, and "caris", meaning "shrimp".

## Description

*Fibulacaris* appears to be an arthropod hanging inside of a shell. When first described in 2019, researchers noticed that *Fibulacaris* would have led an 'inverted lifestyle', swimming upside down. *Fibulacaris*' body is covered in white filaments, and has a small fluke on the end of its tail, like a shrimp.

## References

A possible case of inverted lifestyle in a new bivalved arthropod from the Burgess Shale
Gurlin Tsav Metatherian

The Gurlin Tsav Metatherian is an undescribed extinct genus of Metatherian mammals that lived in Mongolia during the Late Cretaceous.

## Discovery

The Gurlin Tsav Metatherian's remains consist of one semi-complete skull. The Gurlin Tsav Metatherian's skull was excavated Nemegt Formation of Mongolia and dates back to the Late Cretaceous with animals like *Saurolophus*.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurlin\_Tsav\_skull
Genyornis

Credit: Nobu Tamura.

*Genyornis* is an extinct genus of dromornithid bird that lived in Australia during the Late Pleistocene.

## Description

*Genyornis* was medium-sized and had a robust body. Remains are articulated, a state many other dromornithid birds are not found in. Additionally, large eggs and gastroliths have been attributed to it, which can reveal how shallow the sites are. *Genyornis* are found from South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. It is thought to have spanned 1.4 million years-10,000 years ago, and is the only dromornithid to be reported as extant later in the period.

## Classification

Edward Charles Stirling and A.H.C. Zietz (1896) named Genyornis, named after Alfred Newton. They named it "lower jaw bird", although the type is a left femur from Lake Callabonna, South Australia. It was reported in the journal Nature. The bones were found around diprotodont remains. As "struthious birds" had been previously reported, but assigned to *Dromaius* or the (at the time) single species of *Dromornis*. George Hurst wrote a letter about the existence of the bird, which had alerted Stirling in 1893.

## Paleoecology

*Genyornis*, and other Australian megafauna, have two main theories of extinction; climate change and human activity. ~700 *Genyornis* eggshells were dated, determining it went extinct rather quickly, not characteristic of climate variability. The authors found the only reasonable explanation was humans. One 2015 studies collected, dated and analyzed the amino acids in *Genyornis* eggshells, finding they were placed on an ember fire. This was proof that humans had ben cooking and eating *Genyornis* eggs long before they had gone extinct, since the thermal gradient was consistent with an ember fire. However, the eggs were found to be of the giant malleefowl. In May 2010, archeologists reported ~40,000-year-old Aboriginal rock art at Nawarla Gabarnmung in the Norther Territory. It depicts two detailed birds. This had been interpreted as late-surviving *Genyornis* in southwestern Victoria based on dateable Aboriginal tradition.
Hipparion

*Hipparion* is an extinct genus of equid that lived in North America, Eurasia and Africa from the Miocene to the Pleistocene.

## Description

*Hipparion* looked much like the modern horse but still bore two outer vestigial toes. However, some species' vestigial toes were functional. *Hipparion* was 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) tall at the shoulder.

## Species

* *H. chiai*
* *H. concudense*
* *H. condoni*
* *H. crassum*
* *H. dietrichi*
* *H. fissurae*
* *H. forcei*
* *H. gromovae*
* *H. laromae*
* *H. longipes*
* *H. lufengense*
* *H. macedonicum*
* *H. matthewi*
* *H. mediterraneum*
* *H. molayanense*
* *H. minus*
* *H. periafricanum*
* *H. philippus*
* *H. phlegrae*
* *H. prostylum*
* *H. rocinantis*
* *H. sellardsi*
* *H. shirleyae*
* *H. sithonis*
* *H. sitifense*
* *H. tehonense*
* *H. theniusi*
* *H. venustum*
* *H. (Baryhipparion) kchikoicum*

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipparion
* https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2015.1020425?src=recsys
Gobititan

*Gobititan* is an extinct genus of sauropod that lived in Asia during the Early Cretaceous.

## Description

*Gobititan* is known from 41 caudal vertebrae and a partial left hindlimb. The fossil traits were interpreted as basal features in the titanosaur lineage. *Gobititan* was discovered in the Gobi Desert, of which is was named after.

## Notable Specimens

* IVPP 12579: The holotype of *Gobititan* consists of 41 caudal vertebrae, and a partial hindlimb.
Harpactocarcinus

*Harpactocarcinus* is an extinct genus of mud crabs that lived in Europe and North America from the Late Cretaceous to the Miocene.

## Species

* *H. almerae*
* *H. americanus*
* *H. dalmatius*
* *H. fedrigoi*
* *H. istriensis*
* *H. jacquoti*
* *H. macrodactylus*
* *H. miocenicus*
* *H. multidentatus*
* *H. ovalis*
* *H. punctulatus*
* *H. rotundatus*
* *H. wilkeningi*
* *H. yozgatensis*

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpactocarcinus
Hainosaurus

Credit: Dmitry Bogdanov.

*Hainosaurus* is a possibly dubious genus of mosasaur that lived in North America and North Africa during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Hainosaurus*, if proven valid, may be among the largest mosasaurs recorded, preying upon fish, turtles, cephalopods, sharks, plesiosaurs and maybe smaller mosasaurs. It was originally recognized by several autapomorphies, such as a larger, number of vertebrae before the tail, a larger femur/humerus ratio and larger nostrils. However, in 2008, these features were classified as problematic. This, *Hainosaurus pembinensis* was classified as *Tylosaurus pembinensis* and *H. neumilleri* also synonymous with *Tylosaurus*. As of now, *Hainosaurus* is a junior synonym of *Tylosaurus*, and further assessment is needed. In 2022. *H. boubker* was named from the Phosphates of Morocco. Unlike other tylosaurines, it has blade-like teeth with laterally compressed facets encircles by enamel and differentiation along the dental margin. It was named after the Couche III layer of the Sidi Chennane Phosphate quarry.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainosaurus (link discontinued?)
* Systematics and morphology of American mosasaurs, D. Russel, page 241
* Unusual death of a Cretaceous giant, T. Lingham-Soliar, pages 308-310
* The first record of Hainosaurus (Reptilia: Mosasauridae) from Sweden, Johan Lindgren, pages 1157-1165
* https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02724631003621870
* Phylogenetic and Palaeobiogeographical Analysis of Tylosaurinae (Squamata: Mosasauroidea), P.A. Jiménez-Huidobro
* La vie au sein des mers, L. Dollo
* Reassessment and reassignment of the early Maastrichtian mosasaur Hainosaurus bernardi Dollo, 1885, to Tylosaurus Marsh, 1872, Paulina Jimenez-huidobro and Michael W. Caldwell
* https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365437927\_First\_Record\_of\_a\_Tylosaurine\_Mosasaur\_from\_the\_Latest\_Cretaceous\_Phosphates\_of\_Morocco
Fosterovenator

Credit: AcroSauroTaurus on DeviantArt.

*Fosterovenator* is an extinct genus of possible ceratosaurian dinosaur that lived in Wyoming during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

Known from a tibia with an articulated astralagus, catalogued YPM VP 058267A, B and C. The paratype is YPM VP 058267D, a fibula from a larger individual. The holotype was discovered by Arthur Blakes at Como Bluff, consisting of a nearly-complete fibula and a co-ossified astralagus. The paratype fibula's length is 27.5 centimeters (10.8 inches) long. These materials are similar to *Elaphrosaurus*. However, the ceratosaurian affinities of the paratype (and possibly the genus) have been questioned.

## References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosterovenator
Falcatakely

Credit: Mark Witton.

*Falcatakely* is an extinct genus of enantiornithean bird that lived in Madagascar during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

*Falcatakely* possesses an unusually deep and broad snout, which is extremely similar in shape to the extant toucans. The birds rostrum is formed by an expansive edentulous maxilla and a smaller premaxilla. bearing small teeth. Morphometric analysis on the bony elements and the 3D snout show how the beak came to shape like a toucans bill, although this ave has prominent teeth more dinosaur-like than bird-like. The patterning and dramatically-increased bill of *Falcatakely* shows a great difference between *Falcatakely* and other enantiornitheans. This bird demonstrates that toucan-like premaxillas are not an evolutionary requirement for beak enlargement. *Falcatakely* is roughly crow-sized. Its beak is very deep and has a considerably primitive skull.

## References

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2945-x#Abs1
Epanterias

Credit: CisioPurple on DeviantArt.

*Epanterias* is a possibly dubious genus of allosauroid theropod dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

*Epanterias* is known from Kimmeridgian-Tithonian-aged rocks from the Morrison Formation. Edwards Drinker Cope named it in 1878 based on three vertebrae, a coracoid and a metatarsal now known as AMNH 5767. Cope believed it to be a sauropod, but later analysis recovered a theropodan identity. Gregory S. Paul (1998) reasesed the bones, finding it could have been a large *Allosaurus*, which he assigned *Allosaurus amplexus*, where other authors confirmed. However, Gregory S. Paul and Kenneth Carpenter (2010) reassessed the material once more, finding it was of a higher level in the Morrison, concluding it was "probably a new taxon". They found the holotype was non-diagnostic, and assigned it nomen dubium.

The name comes from "buttressed" in Greek, referencing the vertebrae. The epithet refers to the copulatory position in amphibians, where males clasp their mates. Therefore, it means "clasping buttressed vertebrae".
Ian

Credit: Joschua Knüppe.

IVPP V 17959 (nicknamed 'Ian' by Joschua Knüppe) is an undescribed genus of Wukongopterid that lived in China during the Middle/Late Jurassic.

## Description

Ian consists of a partial, 3D skeleton comprising almost all of the skull, fragments of both wing bones, although the left wing is far more complete, part of a leg, as well as a few associated vertebrae. The skull was 14.5 cm long and possesses a rounded crest at the end of its snout. The specific crest shape is different from all other known Wukongopterids.

## Classification

According to Xin Cheng et al. Ian nests within the clade formed by *Darwinopterus* and *Wukongopterus*:

## References

* https://www.pteros.com/pterosaurs/ian-the-wukongopterid.html
* https://www.researchgate.net/figure/PP-V-17959-that-preserved-in-a-slab-of-grey-white-shale-A-Photo-and-B-Line-drawing\_fig1\_305497458
Henodus

*Henodus* is an extinct genus of placodont that lived in Europe during the Late Triassic.

## Description

*Henodus* are found in brackish or freshwater deposits, rather than marine deposits. *Henodus* resembles a turtle in many way, having beaks, short limbs and tails and large scaled shells. Its shell is comprised of a plastron beneath and a carapace atop. The carapace extends far beyond the limbs, made of bony scutes and plates of horn. However, unlike turtles, the shell is comprised of many more pieces of bone, which forms a mosaic pattern. Also unlike turtles, the armour fuses to its spine and its limbs are situated in outwards 'normal' positions inside of the ribcage. Each arm is relatively weak, meaning that Henodus was not well adapted on land, and barely spent time above water. Their mouths sport a single tooth, the rest of the mouth being a beak. *Henodus* has baleen whale-like denticles along its beak, combined with hyoid muscles supporting rapid jaw closing indicates a filter feeding lifestyle. The head squares-off at its front near the eyes.

Discussion on *Henodus*' diet, specifically whether the animal plucked grass from the beds or whether it filter-fed, has sparked the reanalysis of *Atopodentatus*. Studies show that *Atopodentatus* ate sea vegetation rather than filter feeding, however *Henodus* is still thought to have been planktivorous.

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henodus
* http://www.paleofile.com/Placodonttaxa/Henodus.asp
Hateg Island Azhdarchid

Credit: Joschua Knuppe.

The Hateg Island azhdarchid is an extinct, undescribed genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived on Hateg Island during the Late Cretaceous.

## Description

Nothing has been released on this animal, only that is is known from vertebrae, and is very short-necked

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ha%C8%9Beg\_Island#Paleofauna

* https://www.pteros.com/pterosaurs/hateg-island-azhdarchid.html
Holmesina

*Holmesina* is an extinct genus of pampathere mammal that lived in Pan-America from the Middle Miocene to the Late Holocene.

## Description

*Holmesina* was covered in armour plates that allowed it to be more flexible. They ate coarse vegetation and were much larger than the largest extant armadillo. *Holmesina* migrated north during the faunal interchange, adapting well to North America.

## Classification

*Holmesina septentrionalis* was named by Leidy (1889) as the holotype of the genus. Since, records of its occurrences span Pan-America, including Texas, Florida and Brazil, as a major faunal element. In South America, records span from the Middle Miocene to the Early Holocene; in Central and North America, they are found from the Late Pliocene to the Early Holocene.

## Paleobiology

The skull (UNIRIO-PM 6261, UNIRIO-PM 6287, UNIRIO-PM 6288 and UNIRIO-PM 6289), mandible and 427 osteoderms comprising most of the bodily armour from Gruto do Urso cave were described in 2022. Using craniofacial and osteoderm features, it was identified as *Holmesina* sp.. The sutures are in a very early stage of fusion (mostly in the palatine), the skull is split in half, and the osteoderms are poorly developed (i.e. thinner and smaller) and under mineralized, suggesting that this individual was a juvenile that was probably still in a lactating phase. Previously, little was known of this animal's life history. The carcass was buried where the individual died and was partially consumed.

## Species

* *H. cryptae*
* *H. floridanus*
* *H. major*
* *H. occidentalis*
* *H. paulacoutoi*
* *H. rondoniensis*
* *H. septentrionalis*

## References

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmesina
* https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0895981122002176
Eobrontosaurus

Credit: Brolyeuphyfusion9500.

*Eobrontosaurus* is a dubious genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived in Wyoming during the Late Jurassic.

## Description

*Eobrontosaurus* was originally named as a species of *Apatosaurus*, being *A. yahnahpin*. When the skull recovered was studied by Robert Bakker, he concluded the remains belonged to a primitive sauropod similar to *Apatosaurus*. Bakker named *Eobrontosaurus* to support his theory that *A. excelsus* could resurrect the *Brontosaurus* genus, rather than naming it *Eoapatosaurus*.

## References

* *Apatosaurus yahnahpin*: a preliminary description of a new species of diplodocid dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation (Kimmeridgian-Portlandian) and Cloverly Formation (Aptian-Albian) of the western United States. - Mémoires de la Société Géologique de France (Nouvelle Série) 139 (Ecosystèmes Continentaux du Mésozoique): 87-93. - J. A. Filla & P. D. Redman - 1994.
* Dinosaur mid-life crisis: the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition in Wyoming and Colorado. - Lower and Middle Cretaceous Terrestrial Ecosystems, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 14:67-77 - R. T. Bakker - 1998.