Abhishek Mishra

An extinct genus of the Pterosaur order and the Anhangueridae family, the Tropeognathus lived during the early Cretaceous period that spanned from 145 to 100.5 million years ago. Studies also revealed that the dinosaur belonged to another family known as the Ornithocheiridae.

These dinosaurs were known for their keel-tipped snouts and large size and were regarded as the largest Pterosaurs found in the Southern Hemisphere.

In 1987, a specimen of the Pterosaur was discovered in the Romualdo formation that dated back to Aptian and Albian stages. Several Pterosaur specimens were found along with the holotype, a skull with lower jaws.

The second specimen was discovered in 2002 by Andre Jacques Veldmeijer; it consisted of a partial lower jaw.

Alexander Kellner, a Brazilian paleontologist, discovered the third specimen that had a skeleton with a skull and several body parts except for the tail and lower hindlimb. In 1987, Peter Wellnhofer named the Pterosaur the Tropeognathus mesembrinus, while the second species came to be known as the Tropeognathus robustus as it possessed a more robust lower jaw.

Fossil remains suggested that the average length of the wingspan was estimated to be around 27-28.5 ft (8.3-8.7 m), making it much larger than a few related dinosaurs such as the Ornithocheirus and the Coloborhynchus. They had a toothed beak and keels rising from the tips of their upper and lower jaws.

Pterosaurs were able to reach a speed of up to 75 mph (120 kph).

This group of Pterosaur was generally known to be diurnal, while a few species must have been cathemeral which means being active throughout the day for short intervals.

Let's read more fun facts about the Tropeognathus, and if you find this article interesting, don't forget to check out exciting facts about different dinosaurs such as the Cryptoclidus and Machimosauruses.

Ever heard about a dinosaur-like reptile that had a crocodile-like body, but walked on its hind legs like chimpanzees? Sounds fascinating, right?

Come with us and let's explore amazing facts about this unique reptile.

An extinct genus of Pseudosuchian reptiles, the Ornithosuchus lived during the late Triassic Period that spanned from 237 to 201.3 million years ago (mya). Formerly, it was said to be the ancestor of Carnosaurian dinosaurs such as the Allosaurus, but modern studies revealed that the reptile was more closely related to modern crocodiles than to dinosaurs.

In 1877, Thomas Huxley discovered the fossil from the Lossiemouth sandstone, Scotland. Based on his studies, it can be said that this species must have lived in several parts of the United Kingdom and other neighboring countries.

Paleontologists placed the species in the Dasygnathus genus, but the name was already used for a beetle insect. Later, the type genus Ornithosuchus came into use while Ornithosuchus woodwardi became its type species. Ornithosuchus taylori can also be used as a synonym for the species name.

The average length and weight of these reptiles is estimated to have been around 7-13 ft (2-4 m) and 441 lb (200 kg), respectively. Even though they were related to crocodiles, they were able to walk on their hind legs, just like other dinosaurs.

Studies reveal that they spent most of their time on all four legs, but moved on hind legs when they had to run rapidly. The skull generally resembled those of Theropod dinosaurs. Primitive features included the presence of a double row of bony plates that went to their back.

There was the presence of five toes on each foot. They had long tails and sharp teeth, suggesting they were carnivores.

Let's read more fun facts about the Ornithosuchus, and if you find this article interesting, don't forget to check out exciting facts about different dinosaurs like the Azendohsaurus and the Pleurosaurus.

One of the mysterious reptiles that belonged to the middle and late Triassic period that spanned from 247 to 201 million years ago (mya), the Longisquama is a genus that consisted of a single species called the Longisquama insignia. The reptile must have become extinct somewhere between Norian and Rhaetian ages.

The term Longisquama is a combination of two Latin words: 'longus' and 'squama' which mean 'long' and 'scales', respectively.

When it was discovered, it was named the Longisquama insignis due to a string of tall feathers on its back. Fossil remains were found from the Madygen formation in Kyrgyzstan and are kept in the Paleontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.

The reptile is known for the elongated skin protuberance on its back. A fossil has been preserved that had dorsal feather-like appendages from the back of an incomplete skeleton. The reptile had a row of seven appendages spreading like a fan-like pattern.

These appendages were neither scales nor feathers, and were quite strong, unlike avian feathers. Also, they were quite long and narrow and resembled tiny hockey sticks. The average body length of the reptile is said to have been around 6 in (15 cm).

A few researchers such as Buffetaut and Haubold suggested that long structures were modified scales attached in pairs, akin to a paired gliding membrane. A reconstruction of the Longisquama with plumes was published that looked similar to gliding lizards such as the Kuehneosaurus and the Draco.

However, the reconstruction is now thought to be false. A set of scientists believe that the origin of birds is somehow linked to 'long scales' of these reptiles but a consensus was reached that birds evolved from Theropod dinosaurs.

Let's read more fun facts about the Longisquama, and if you find this article interesting, don't forget to check out exciting facts about different extinct dinosaurs such as the Tylosaurus and the Pleurosaurus.

Commonly known as the simple spine lizard, the Haplocanthosaurus was a sauropod dinosaur that was found in the Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic period which spanned from 155-152 million years ago. There are two known species, Haplocanthosaurus delfsi and Haplocanthosaurus priscus, that belonged to the genus.

Specimens of both the species were discovered by Edwin Delfs, a college student of Colorado, the United States in the lowest layer of the Morrison Formation.

The type species was firstly named Haplocanthus priscus by John Bell Hatcher, an American paleontologist, but since Haplocanthus was already used for acanthodian fish, a new name Haplocanthosaurus priscus was given to the species.

The dinosaur is regarded as one of the smallest sauropods.

The average length of sauropods is estimated to be around over 66 ft (20 m), while the Haplocanthosaurus was around 49 ft (15 m) long and its weight is said to be around 14 tons (12791 kg).

The dinosaur is known for its vertebrae as it possessed a single dorsal neural spine, while a majority of diplodocus sauropods had double-pierced V-shaped dorsal neural spines.

The neck vertebrae had a tall dorsal neural spine, high neural arches, while the thigh bones were quite longer than the shin bones.

Out of the four specimens of these dinosaurs, only the Haplocanthosaurus delfsi is completely mounted, while a partial skeleton is kept in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History with a replica skull as the original skull has not been discovered yet.

Generally, sauropods inhabited freshwater ponds, lakes, rivers, but these dinosaurs must have lived in dense forests, grasslands, rocky mountains. They were gregarious and used to live in groups.

Let's read more fun facts about the Haplocanthosaurus, and if you find this article interesting, don't forget to check out exciting facts about different dinosaurs like Blikanasaurus and Thotobolosaurus.